
Class Lpi^) l^ I 



PRESENTED BY 



A History 

of 

Macalester College 



Its Origin, Struggle and Growth 



By 
HENRY DANIEL FUNK 



Published by the Macalester College Board of Trustees 
1910 



v^' 



X 






/|)» 



MAR 20^911 



f^ 



4 



TO 

THE MEMBERS 

OF 

THE CLASS OF 1901 



William Beckering, 



Louis Benes, 



Henry Roy Bitzing, Percy Porter Brush, 

Charles Morrow Farney, Nathaniel E. Hoy, 

Lewis Hughes, Richard Uriah Jones, 

William Carl Laubs, Millicent Mahlum, 

William Henry Travis, Lily Bell Watson. 



INIREMEMBRANCE 

OF 

HAPPY COLLEGE DAYS 

THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED BY THEIR CLASSMATE 

HENRY DANIEL FUNK 



PREFACE. 

The appearance of a History of Macalester Col- 
lege may be a surprise to many. It is known as one 
of the youngest of the institutions of higher learning 
in Minnesota, and, therefore, a school which scarcely 
has had the time to make history. 

But the fact that Macalester is the out-growth 
of the earliest educational movements of St. Paul, 
and indeed of Minnesota; that it has taken almost 
sixty years to realize its establishment; and that it 
has passed through a long struggle in which faith 
and hope and self-sacrifice have won a splendid vic- 
tory; these considerations have seemed to me to justi- 
fy the writing of this little book. 

My aim has been to present an accurate narra- 
tive of the origin, struggle and growth of the college. 
I have kept in mind Ranke's rule that the historian 
must show how events came to pass, "wie es eigentlich 
gewesen ist," and not be a mere chronicler of events. 
I am aware, however, that the realization of such 
objective history is conditioned by the "mental pecul- 
iarities" of the writer, and that every narrative is 
really a description of events as "seen through the 
mind" of the historian. I offer this book to the pub- 
lic realizing its imperfections, yet conscious that I 
have made an earnest endeavor to write an unbiased 
account. 



6 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

My information has been secured from such original 
sources as the Minutes of the Board of Trustees, the 
Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, the Minutes of 
the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, the 
Minutes of the Faculty of Macalester College, college 
publications, such as the "Echo" and the "Bulletin;" 
newspaper reports from the Minneapolis Tribune, the 
Minneapolis Journal, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the 
St. Paul Dispatch, and the Duluth Herald. 

I have also interviewed many Minnesota pioneers, 
and have received valuable information from Mr, H. 
Knox Taylor, Mr. D. A. Tawney, and Judge Willis, 
who lived in Dr. Neill's home a few years, also from 
Mr. Charles T. Thompson, Dr. M, D. Edwards, Dr. 
A. B. Abbot, Mr. R. C. Jefferson, Dr. Breed, and Dr. 
W. R. Kirkwood. Professor Axtell has helped me to 
many documents in the library and has aided me in 
verifying a number of important facts. Dr. Wallace, 
who has the longest record of continued service for the 
college, has been a great help to me in preparing the 
chapter on the financial history of the college. No man 
understands that part of Macalester's history as thor- 
oughly as he does. The biographical sketches of the 
first Board of Trustees were penned by his hand. He 
Has given me m-uch help on some of the later events 
of the college. In spite of his protest I have called 
attention to his heroic sacrifice and have given him 
due credit for his part in saving the college. 

To Dr. Hodgman I am indebted for access to all 
the records of the executive office bearing on the 



PREFACE. 7 

administration of the college, and for many practical 
suggestions. 

The chapter on the Formative Period follows 
closely the account written by Dr. T. A. McCurdy, 
at my request. Mr. R. A. Kirk has furnished 
important data on the endowment movement and has 
read carefully the manuscript on that chapter. 

To my colleagues Professors Anderson, Down- 
ing, Kirkwood and MacRae, and to my friend Dr. 
Carl Abbetmeyer I owe hearty thanks for reading 
the proof and making important corrections. 

Above all, my thanks are due to Rev. Henry C. 
Swearingen, D. D., who has taken precious time 
from his busy pastorate to read the manuscript. To 
his suggestions I owe many changes in the form of 
statement, and to his thorough scholarship and ex- 
cellent judgment I have deferred in many instances. 

Henry Daniel Funk. 



MACALESTER COLLEGE. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Page 

Chapter I The Small College 9 

Chapter II The Origui of Macalester College 29 

Chapter III Macalester Becomes a Denominational 

College So 

Chapter IV The Outlook for the College 64 

Chapter V The Formative Period 91 

Chapter VI The Opening of the College 113 

Chapter VII The Faculty and the Student Life 129 

Chapter VIII A Biography of Doctor Neill 146 

Chapter IX The History of the Debt and Its Liquida- 
tion 157 

Chapter X From 1890 to 1900 197 

Chapter XI Macalester Becomes Co-educational 216 

Chapter XII From 1900 to 1910 231 

Chapter XIII Doctor Hodgman's Administration 250 

Chapter XIV Successive Members of the Board of Trus- 
tees, Faculty Members, College Songs, 

College Yells, Statistics, Etc 266 

Chapter XV The Need of Macalester 280 

Index , 298 




Charles Macalester. 
After whom Macalester College was named. 



MACALESTER COLLEGE. 



CHAPTER I. 
THE SMALL COLLEGE. 

The purpose of this book is to relate the history of 
Macalester College. It is the story of a small western 
institution that has only recently emerged from a tre- 
mendous struggle for existence. During its 
years of adversity, when the faith of the trustees and 
of the faculty was put to the severest tests, Macalester 
demonstrated to its friends and constituents 
that it had a right to exist and was worthy of better 
equipment, so that it might fulfill properly its mis- 
sion as a small college of high standards. 

As the twenty-fifth anniversary of its opening 
draws near there is good reason to be optimistic re- 
garding its future. The debt which for so many years 
hung like a pall over the institution has been liquidated 
and a, respectable endowment has been secured. New 
buildings, modern and well equipped, have been added 
to the plant; the alumni already number not 
less than 230 and the oncoming classes are steadily 
becoming larger, while the gain in friends 



10 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

and supporters during the last few years has been very 
gratifying. Confident that in the future Macalester 
College will very largely realize the expectations of its 
founders and occupy an honorable position among the 
best schools of the land, the trustees have directed 
that a history of this institution be written. It is hoped 
that a better knowledge of the college gained by perus- 
ing these pages may enlist the active support of some 
who- so far have been only disinterested observers of 
its progress. There are among the alumni also many 
who are unfamiliar with some of the- important facts 
connected with the life of the school, because such 
facts were not easily obtainable, and these surely will 
be glad to become better acquainted with the history of 
their alma mater. Future classes, friends and patrons, 
it is hoped, may find this brief history a guide to a 
correct study of Macalester's successful struggle for 
existence. If these pages will render such service, then 
this narrative will be justified. 

In such a history as this it is important to set forth 
the very earliest efforts connected with the founding 
of the college; it is proper to show why the first at- 
tempts by the founder of Macalester to establish a 
Christian but undenominational school of higher learn- 
ing failed ; it is necessary to state how Macalester 
became a Presbyterian institution; what kind of 
support the Presbyterians of the state gave to the 
adopted college ; how the long-expected opening of the 
school in 1885 was succeeded by a period of stress 
and trial in which the loyalty of the trustees and of 



THE SMALL COLLEGE. ii 

the faculty was required to undergo a severe ordeal; 
it is necessary to show also how the college gained new 
friends who relieved it of the financial encumbrance 
that long threatened it with extinction, friends who 
placed it upon a sound foundation, and in whose 
fidelity lies the assurance of permanency and stability. 

Such a work will demand that the mistakes) in the 
management of the institution be recorded as faith- 
fully as its laudable achievements. The historian 
must tell the truth; he has no license to misrepresent 
historical facts. Some things of a rather painful char- 
acter must be recorded, things that are not pleasant 
reading and much less agreeable writing. It will be 
seen that in college work, as in some other fields of 
service, the burdens are borne by a few, whereas the 
criticisms come from many ; it will be noted that even 
an ecclesiastical body can perform a paternal function 
in a step-fatherly way; and it will be evident that a 
college, like an individual, finds honor as it has success. 

Fortunately Macalester's twenty-fifth anniversary 
comes at a time when the regard of the public for 
small institutions of this kind is more favorable than 
it was a score of years ago. Then the future of such 
institutions seemed indeed to be in jeopardy. 

. The educational system of our country has ex- 
perienced many changes within the last seventy-five 
years. During the early period of our national 
history higher education was almost entirely tinder the 
control of ecclesiastical bodies. Before 1800 there 
were only four state institutions of learning independ- 



12 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

ent of church control ; viz. : the college in Philadelphia 
founded in 1755, which was later merged into the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania ; the University of North Car- 
olina, 1789; the University of Vermont, 1791 ; the 
L^niversity of Tennessee, 1794. Again during the first 
quarter of the 19th century only four state universities 
were established; the University of South Carolina, 
1801 ; the University of Georgia, 1801 ; the University 
of Ohio, 1804; and the University of Virginia, 1825. 
But between 1825 and i860 many western states 
founded such schools.^ This was due to the fact that 
ecclesiastical and sectarian rivalries prevented the re- 
ligious element of the community from securing a con- 
trolling influence over higher education. A'fter a 
time intelligent and patriotic men, seeing the denomina- 
tions entirely incapable of uniting for such a great 
undertaking, and even weakened by internal dissen- 
sions, began to despair of colleges founded on the vol- 
untary principle and to turn toward the state as the 
only hope for large and well-equipped seats of learn- 
ing.^ 

Between 1857- 1862 Congress debated the Mor- 
rill Act, by which state aid was to be provided for in- 
stitutions of learning. ^ The bill was passed and 
signed by President Lincoln in 1862. It provides for 

1(a) Indiana, 1828; Michigan, 1837; Missouri, 1839; 
Iowa, 1847; Wisconsin, 1848; Bonne, Education in the United 
States p. 204. (b) Minnesota, 1851 ; Folwell, Minnesota 
p. 144. 

2 Thwing's Higher Education in America, p. 228. 

3 Morrill Act on Agricultural Colleges, Bill No. 298, Con- 
gressional Globe, Part 2, 1861-2, pages 1935-3062. 



THE SMALL COLLEGE. 13 

the "endowment, support and maintenance of at least 
one college (in each state) where the leading object 
shall be, without excluding other scientific and classi- 
cal studies, and including military tactics, to teach 
such branches of learning as are related to agricul- 
ture and the mechanic arts — in order to promote the 
liberal and practical education of the industrial classes 
in the several pursuits and professions of life." 

''From 181 5 to 1840 a score or more of young 
American scholars found their way to Goettingen or 
Tuebingen or Heidelberg, and imbibed the German 
tradition of investigation in search of ultimate truth."^ 
Between 1840- 1890 a constantly increasing number 
of American students went abroad to study at Ger- 
man universities and these brought to this country 
German methods and the idea of -Lehrfreiheit and 
student liberty. In the meantime a complete separa- 
tion of church and state was established in this coun- 
try, which showed itself most plainly in our educa- 
tional system. In the change from the old to the new 
ideas and methods, abuses and mistakes that regu- 
larly accompany periods of transition, were not lack- 
ing. Men who had become enthusiastic over their 
Lehrfreiheit were in many instances indiscreet in ex- 
pressing themselves on the subject of religion, and 
the apparent conflict between religion and the new 
science developments was magnified; new courses in 
science were introduced into the curricula, and took 
the place of the so-called cultural subjects. 

^ Hart, The American Nation, A History, Vol. 16, p. 23. 



14 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Those who favored the old order of things in religion 
and education were in many cases looked upon as bigots 
by university professors ; on the other hand ecclesiasti- 
cal bodies deprecated the innovation of the new uni- 
versities, and in some way the unfortunate term, 
"Godless Universities," became the slogan of many 
who were more orthodox than enlightened or just. 
Furthermore, it was soon discovered by the ecclesi- 
astical statistician that the academic departments, or 
colleges, of the state universities graduated an ex- 
ceedingly small -number of men who entered the serv- 
ice of the church. This fact, more than any other 
consideration, impressed the supervising ecclesiastical 
bodies with the necessity of establishing schools which 
should be under their care and which should serve 
as feeders for the ministry. 

The denominational college was necessarily small, 
and naturally it could not show an equipment com- 
parable to that of the academic department of the 
large state university. And yet, a sort of rivalry 
sprang up between these two types of institutions, and 
for several years the public was treated to an interest- 
ing discussion as to their comparative merits. That 
the denominational college was not quarreling with the 
state university proper is evident from the fact that 
it sent its graduates to the Law School or School 
of Medicine or Engineering College or Graduate 
School, just as did the academic department of the 
University, and these departments of the University 



THE SMALL COLLEGE. 15 

did not discriminate against the graduates or students 
that came from the church schools. 

The university colleges generally were quick to in- 
troduce both the German method of lecturing and a 
wide range of elective subjects. The small college was 
more a teaching college and strictly adhered to re- 
quired courses. These discussions, unfortunately, 
were sometimes prompted, as it now seems, more by 
a spirit of vindictiveness than by a desire to serve the 
best interests of education. 

During this period of academic disputing the col- 
legiate departments of the western state universities, 
in the first flush of their youthful expansion, had the 
convenient knack of forgetting their weakness, in 
failing to provide expected training for the individ- 
ual, while the college overlooked its want of library 
facilities and scientific equipment and subjects. 

After a few years of debate, in which both kinds 
of institutions learned to appreciate that neither was 
the ideal type and that each could learn from the 
other, a gradual approach was realized. 

The controversy has rather helped than injured 
the small institution. Its course was strengthened 
where the discussion had proved it weak ; some rigidly 
required subjects gave way to electives, and courses 
in science were ofiFered. It learned also that to be a 
high grade college it need not provide postgraduate 
courses, but better leave such work to the university, 
whose proper sphere is that of research and investi- 
gation. As a result the public has come to the con- 



i6 MACALESTER COLLEGE. * 

elusion that not only the small college, but the small 
denominational college, should not be annihilated. 
It has been discovered that it is not necessary to close 
the doors of such schools or let them be absorbed in 
the state university; to-day the state university itself 
acknowledges the need of these smaller institutions, 
and probably would be among the first to protest 
against their abolition. It is now conceded that the 
small Christian college has a sphere, that the imiver- 
sity has a sphere, and that each should help the other 
to accomplish its particular function. The day prob- 
ably is not far distant when the undergraduate courses 
in colleges like Macalester will, to a considerable ex- 
tent, be so arranged as to lead up to the advanced work 
in the Graduate School of the State University. 

The denominational college is not always a 
small institution, but in the majority of cases the 
friends of the small college are the supporters of the 
denominational school. To-day the small denomina- 
tional college, if well equipped, is liberally supported 
by an intelligent and appreciative public. Its work, 
however, miist be of high merit, and thanks to the 
influence of the state universities, the colleges have 
broadened their courses. 

Unfortunately the good small college for a time 
suffered from the establishment of too many institu- 
tions claiming to represent this type of school, at 
places where they were not needed, and with such 
inferior equipment as made impossible even a sem- 
blance of real college work. Happily, these petty. 



THE SMALL COLLEGE. I7 

would-be colleges and universities, have been forced 
either to withdraw from the educational field or to 
raise their standards and improve their equipment/ 
That the small western college (aiid the western 
college if not under ecclesiastical control is generally 
affiliated with some denomination or denominations) 
can do good work has been attested by many who are 
competent to speak on this subject. A few years ago 
Mr. Bliss Perry, editor of the Atlantic Monthly, and 
for a time professor at Princeton University, said 
a^ Williams College: 'In the larger colleges the 
students have no time to think. In my experience in 
the graduate work at Princeton I found that the best 
thinkers were those who came from the little un- 
known colleges of the middle west. These men pos- 
sessed a certain power of reflection and assimilating 
the few facts which they possess, which is not found 
in the university graduate. The tendency in the uni- 
versity, growing more and more strong, is toward the 
repression of individual opinion. It takes courage to 
stand up and assert yourself against the university 
mob. The type of men who can do that is what the 
small college can and should develop." ^ 

iPritchett, The Relation of Christian Denominations to 
Colleges, 1908, pp. 8, 15. , . 

Note: On the relation of the college to the university, 
the reader will find an excellent opinion by an expert edu- 
cator, President Remsen of Johns Hopkins University, be- 
ing his Inaugural Address delivered at the twenty-fifth an- 
niversary of Johns Hopkins, p. 94. ^^vtt 
2The Small College and the Large, Forum, Vol. XXXIT, 

p. 319. 



i8 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

About one year after the remarks quoted above 
were made, President Thwing of Western Reserve 
expressed himself as follows : "I should hesitate to 
make an affirmation on the subject, but I do not hesi- 
tate to ask whether the small college is not better 
fitted to make thinkers and the large to make schol- 
ars ; the small better fitted to teach men and the large 
better fitted to teach subjects; the small better fitted 
to train the individual, and the large better fitted to 
discipline the democracy; and the small better fitted 
to improve and enrich personal character, and the 
large to disseminate truth." 

Contemporaneous with these opinions we find a 
similar view expressed by Hon. Elihu Root, an alum- 
nus of Hamilton College : "I believe that the Ameri- 
can boy has better chances for education, for training, 
for making true success of his life in a college of not 
more than three hundred students." ^ 

Dr. Harris of Amherst, in the Outlook for August 
22, 1902, said : "It is pretty well understood now 
that the place for study, that is, the place where study 
is required, is the small college ; that in the university 
the student may, in the college he must, study." 

The church papers of the leading protestant de- 
nominations also took up the cause of the small Chris- 
tian college. Their editorials and communications on 
this subject often very ably set forth the need 
of such institutions. They undoubtedly influenced 

1 The Small College and the Large, Forum, Vol XXXII, 
p. 325- 



THE SMALL COLLEGE. IQ 

some church members to rally to the support of these 
schools. But they did not depend on such advocates 
alone. The secular press, weeklies and monthly peri- 
odicals made important contributions to the litera- 
ture on this question. On account of their inde- 
pendence of denominational control these expressions 
are of importance, as it may safely be assumed, that 
they represented the convictions of unbiased observers. 
Commenting on Mr. Carnegie's gifts to small col- 
leges, the New York Independent,^ said: "Mr. Car- 
negie is wise in making these gifts to the small col- 
leges. They generally represent local or special 
needs and their resources are scanty. The students 
who attend them would, to a great extent, not have 
gone elsewhere. They anticipate and create the de- 
mand for a higher education. The students who at- 
tend them are of the best quality, not from the ranks 
of the rich, but from the common people, and they 
come to work. They represent ambition and noble 
purpose. These smaller colleges produce their full 
share of men of mark. Their students are under 
closer supervision and instruction than are those in 
the larger classes of great institutions. They spend 

^The Independent, April 6, 1905, Editorial article, p. 793- 

See also, The Nation, vol. 69, p. 422; The Nation, vol. 78, 
pp. 508-9. 

Education, June, 1905, p. 1603. 

World's Work, Nov. 1905, 6816. 

Stevens' Institute Indicator, April, 1905, p. 207. 

Mr. Carnegie, addressing the alumni of Stevens' Institute, 
said : 'The man who goes to a small college gets a better ed- 
ucation and is Hkely to be turned out a better man than if he 
went to a larger institution." 



20 ' MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

scanty money in social entertainment, liquor and to- 
bacco, and their athletics cost them little in cash. 
What money they have goes to their education, and 
they have high purposes with it. 

"The time has passed to flout the small college or 
the fresh water universities. They can hold their 
own. They will continue to do the larger work in edu- 
cation, their number making up for the smaller size." 

Only recently (1907) Mr. Clarence F. Birdseye, 
in his interesting book on "Individual Training in Our 
Colleges," asserted that the poor colleges are rich in 
individual training and that the rich colleges are poor 
in individual training, "That many of our modern, 
richly endowed, highly organized and magnificently 
taught colleges and universities are, man for man, at 
a distinct educational disadvantage when compared 
with their forefathers who attended the small pov- 
erty-stricken institution of earlier days." * * *! 
"It is the training of the highest moral, mental and 
physical qualities of the undergraduate that we 
should seek." * * * "The college should be the 
place for the highest training of the individual. If 
he is not fitted for that training, or if we can be sure 
that it is not the best thing for him, he should be kept 
at home." * * * "The old college course of four 
years, with all its great benefits and advantages, is still 
dear to most college men, and we shall never know any 
greater shock than when we are compelled to give it 
up, if that shall ever happen. It is a grave question 
whether the best average results are not coming from 



THE SMALL COLLEGE. 21 

the smaller and poorer Southern and Western col- 
leges, which still draw from an old-fashioned Ameri- 
can constituency, where the students are not weak- 
ened by the evils that are prevalent in the larger in- 
stitutions and the older communities, and where the 
training of the individual is still fine." 1 

Thus when the small college was put on the de- 
fensive it found advocates in all quarters. The above 
citations are only a few representing the views of 
experienced American educators and of men of sound 
judgment in practical affairs. 

In "The American Commonwealth" 2 (second edi- 
tion, 1891), Mr. James Bryce pays a tribute to the 
small colleges of our country which might be classed 
as belonging to the inadequately equipped group in 
the rural regions. "They get hold of a multitude of 
poor men, who might never resort to a distant place 
of education. They set learning in a visible form, 
plain, indeed, and humble, but dignified even in her 
humility, before the eyes of a rustic people, in whom 
the love of knowledge, naturally strong, might never 
break from the bud into the flower but for the care 
of some zealous gardener. They give the chance of 
rising in some intellectual walk of life to many a 
strong, earnest nature, who might otherwise have 
remained an artisan or storekeeper, and perhaps 
failed in those vocations. They light up in many a 



iBirdseye "Individual Training in Our Colleges," 00 06-8 
loi, 332-6. > ff > . 

2Bryce, "The American Commonwealth," Vol. II, p. 568. 



22 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

country town what is at first only a farthing rush- 
Hght, but which, when the town swells to a city, or 
endowments flow in, or when some able teacher is 
placed in charge, becomes a lamp of growing flame 
which may finally throw its rays over the whole state 
in which it stands. 

"In some of these Western colleges one finds to- 
day men of great ability and great attainments; one 
finds students who are receiving an education quite as 
thorough, though not always as wide, as the best 
Eastern universities can give. I do not at all deny 
that the time for more concentration has come, and 
that restriction on the power of granting degrees 
would be useful. But one who recalls the history of 
the last fifty years, and has in mind the tremendous 
rush of ability and energy towards a purely material 
development which has marked its people, will feel 
that this uncontrolled freedom of teaching, this mul- 
tiplication of small institutions, have done for the 
country a work which a few state regulated universi- 
ties' might have failed to do." 

If an unbiased foreigner thus appreciated the 
service that the struggling small college was render- 
ing about twenty years ago, when most of those in- 
stitutions were in their infancy, surely the native 
American ought now to see that the small, endowed 
Christian college, having a well-trained scholarly fac- 
ulty and facilities commensurate with its pretensions 
should be, and is, able to do thorough work. Such 
recognition the small Christian colleges have re- 



THE SMALL COLLEGE 23 

ceived. Intelligent Americans did not fail to remem- 
ber that of its great statesmen, scientists, scholars and 
educators, not only in colonial days, but while the 
future of the small college was questioned, many 
were the product of these institutions. Among the 
ablest professors in the state universities were found 
the graduates of the small colleges ; even some presi- 
dents of state universities had their schooUng under 
such humbler auspices, as, for example, Ex-President 
Folwell of the University of Minnesota, a graduate 
of Hobart College; Dr. W. R. Harper of Chicago 
University, one of the alumni of Muskingum College. 
Among the foremost supporters of the small Chris- 
tian colleges belonging to the Presbyterian church 
were John Stuart of New York, William Thaw of 
Pittsburgh, Cyrus McCormick of Chicago, and John 
Converse of Philadelphia. Perhaps no friend of the 
small Christian college is better known than Dr. 
D. K. Pearsons. While not a member of any 
denomination, though regularly attending services at 
a Congregational church, he has distributed more 
than $4,000,000 among forty-seven institutions 
of different protestant denominations. Dr. Pearsons 
believes "that the small colleges are training the men 
and women who are able to exercise the largest in- 
fluence upon the future of the nation," ^ and he has 
faith in the Christian college because ''the light of 
liberty, religion and education are kindred fires, kin- 
dled at the same celestial altar, nurtured by the same 

iThe Minnesota Alumni Weekly, Vol. IX, No. I, 1909. 



24 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

ethereal aliment ; together they were born and to- 
gether they must expire. The sacrilegious hand that 
would extinguish the one must quench the more than 
Promethean heat of the other. Our fathers caught 
these blended lights from the skies. Long did they 
watch their rising, their widening, their brightening. 
Long may it be our happy lot to walk in the beams of 
their effulgence, till the night of time shall settle 
upon the world, and the lights of liberty and religion 
and education are lost in the blaze of eternity." ^ 

Dr. Pearsons' support of the small college has un- 
doubtedly inspired other men of ample means to fol- 
low his example. Among these are Mr. Andrew 
Carnegie, who has donated large sums to endow- 
ments, libraries and buildings for the small colleges, 
and set aside the munificent sum of $15,000,000 to 
provide a teachers' pension fund. Mr. John D. 
Rockefeller is the founder of the General Education 
Board, which he endowed with $52,000,000 to 
strengthen the weak but worthy colleges of our na- 
tion. In 1906 three hundred and twenty-seven col- 
leges were benefited by this fund, and two hundred 
and eighteen of these had some denominational con- 
nection. The General Education Board and the Car- 
negie Pension Fund have done much to standardize 
the colleges of America and to assure the perpetuity 
of the high grade small college.^ 



^Review of Reviews, Nov., 1901, p. 850 ff. 
2 The Place of The Small College, by A. T. Perry, in the 
American College, Vol. i, No. 5, p. 398, Feb. 1910. 



THE SMALL COLLEGE 25 

No single individual has done more to help the 
small colleges of Minnesota than has Mr. James J. 
Hill, who stands foremost among the men who have 
contributed to the wonderfully rapid development of 
the Northwest. Macalester College gratefully ac- 
knowledges its special indebtedness to him. 

The emphasis which the small college places on 
the religious phase of education has won the good 
will of the public. Intelligent men everywhere in 
Christian America recognize the need of a training 
which will discipline, not only the man's intellectual 
faculties, but his spiritual nature as well. An educa- 
tion which does not affect man in his highest powers 
leaves him an ill-balanced creature. The small Chris- 
tian college aims to avoid this mistake. 

The endeavors of the less pretentious and distinc- 
tively Christian institutions to perform this particu- 
lar mission has led broad-minded men at the head 
of some of our best universities to express their "God 
Speed" upon them. On October, 26th, 1906, Dr. 
Benjamin Ide Wheeler, president of California State 
University, in welcoming Dr. Baer, president-elect 
of Occidental College, said: "The State University 
welcomes additions to the list of good colleges, and 
development in the life of them. It welcomes col- 
leges where subjects are soundly and sanely taught, 
where teachers are men of character, cleanness, and 
loftiness of spirit, and where the fear of God is re- 
garded as the beginning of wisdom. We know at 
Berkeley, just as well as you know, that a man who 



26 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

does not live the religious life does not half live, and 
the man who is not religiously trained is not half 
educated. There is at this time throughout the whole 
country, a tide setting strongly towards the develop- 
ment of the small colleges. We believe, those of us 
who have had experience with them, that they have 
the opportunity more distinctly than the large institu- 
tions of recognizing how truly education is a matter of 
the life and the spirit."^ Dr. Cyrus Northrop, the dis- 
tinguished head of the Minnesota State University, in 
an address several years ago said : "I want to say that 
it is not possible for a university under any conditions 
whatever — a state university — to so carefully cultivate 
the religious spirit and religious life as it is in the de- 
nominational college, conducted wisely, liberally, broad- 
ly for the purpose of cultivating religion as well as edu- 
cation. Now is the day to establish in these Common- 
wealths the Christian institutions which will not only 
do their own work, but will help to keep the public 
education of the state within a reasonable bound of 
Christian character and Christian love." 2 

^Occidental College Bulletin, Nov., 1906, p. 8. 

^Not being able to trace this citation to the source from 
which the Macalester College Bulletin for May, 1906, had 
taken it, I asked Dr. Northrop whether the report represented 
his views or not. In response to this inquiry, I received the 
following letter : tv r /C4-t, 

Prof. Henry D. Funk, St. Paul, Minn. ^"^^^ ^^^^' ^9io. 

Dear Sir: I return herewith the clipping that you sent 
me in your letter of May 19th. I can not say when or where 
this sentiment was expressed by me — I think it probable 
that it was at a meeting of the National Congregational 
Council in Des Moines, Iowa, some five or six years ago. 

The paragraph sounds like a report of my remarks 
rather than like an exact copy of my remarks, but the senti' 



THE SMALL COLLEGE 2^ 

About the same time that these western educators 
recognized the merits of the small Christian college, 
the president of the oldest institution of higher learn- 
ing in America remarked : ''If there is one thing evi- 
dent to an experienced educator it is this : That the 
variety of institutions of education in our country is 
thoroughly wholesome. We have three classes of 
educational institutions, those supported by the state, 
the public and the municipality. We have the insti- 
tutions supported by religious denominations, and we 
have again the private schools and colleges. This 
diversity is one of the most wholesome features of the 
American system of public education. And with this 
diversity we are better off than if any single one of 
these three classes had possession of the field. There 
is room for all, and if competing they will accomplish 
greater good than if working singly." i 

These citations may suffice to show that the right 
of the Christian college to a share in the educational 
work of the country is at least conceded, if not that 

ment is irx accord with what I have often expressed and 
though I may not have used the exact words in this excerpt 
they are in accord with my sentiments and I stand by it and 
am not ashamed of it. Very truly yours, 

Cyrus Northrop. 

^Again finding that I could not trace the remarks at- 
tributed to Dr. Eliot to the publication from which the Mac- 
alester College Bulletin had copied it, I wrote to Dr. Eliot 
asking him about the correctness of the citation and received 
the following answer: 

Cambridge, Mass., April 30, 1910. 

Dear Sir: I remember making the statement copied on 
the enclosed slip, but cannot recall where I said it. The 
quotation is essentially correct. Very truly yours, 

Charles W. Eliot. 



28 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

there is a positive demand for such institutions. The 
steady growth of these schools and the generous gifts 
that have come to them during the years of academic 
controversy, is proof sufficient that the general pub- 
lic think well of them; it is a practical kind of en- 
dorsement ; in fact it has become popular to advocate 
the small college.^ 

It is too much to assert that in Macalester the 
trustees, faculty and alumni have realized the ideal 
of a Christian college, but that the school has done 
excellent work in spite of its limitations they know 
and boldly maintain, and that it may approach still 
nearer to its ideal is the hope of all its friends at this 
its twenty-fifth anniversary. 

^Assembly Herald, May, 1905, p. 447. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE ORIGIN OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Macalester College is one of the youngest of the 
small colleges of Minnesota, as it was not opened until 
September, 1885. But in tracing the influences that 
led to its establishment, the college is found connected 
with the earliest educational enterprises of the state. 
This connection and the change from an undenomina- 
tional to a denominational school are explained in 
what follows. 

Macalester is the outgrowth of an institution which 
was organized by the Rev. Edward D. Neill in 1853. 
In 1849 Dr. Neill came to St. Paul, as a missionary 
for the New School Presbyterian Church. Two years 
later, in 185 1, owing to the opening of territory hither- 
to disputed by the Indians, an influx of new settlers 
began. When Minnesota (the name means sky- 
tinged water) was organized as a territory, in 1849, 
the Dakota Indians within its bounds refused to rec- 
ognize the government's claim to the region which 
they occupied.! This hostile attitude of the Indians 
had deterred immigrants from entering the new terri- 

^Neill, History of Minnesota, Fourth Edition, p. 556. 
Stephen, Personal Recollections of Minnesota and Its People, 
p. 116. 

Folwell, History of Minnesota, p. 92-102. 



30 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

tory. In 1851 Governor Ramsey and the Commis- 
sioner of Indian Affairs, Luke Lea, succeeded in 
making a treaty with the Sioux by which the latter 
ceded 21,000,000 acres of land west of the Mississippi 
and north of the Iowa boundary line to the territorial 
government. At once the hardy immigrants, many of 
whom were in the prime of early, vigorous manhood, 
or fresh, beautiful womanhood, swarmed into this 
newly acquired garden spot, and within six months 
planned towns, built mills, opened roads and com- 
menced farms. A thriving activity rapidly trans- 
formed a wild country into a seat of civilization. The 
reports which the new settlers sent to their friends 
whom they had left behind brought many others west- 
ward. There was an irresistible charm about the 
"invigorating air, blooming' prairies, fresh forests, 
smiling lakes and laughing waterfalls."^ In ad- 
dressing the Minnesota legislature in 1853 Governor 
Ramsey's message contained this significant forecast 
concerning the growth of the territory: "In ten 
years a state, in ten years more half a million of peo- 
ple, are not extravagant predictions." 2 

It was this invasion of immigrants who came 
largely from New England and the central states that 
impressed wide-awake men with the necessity of pro- 
viding proper educational opportunities for the chil- 

^Steph'Cn, Personal Recollections of Minnesota and Its 
People, p. 123. 

^Journal of The Council of Minnesota, Jan. 27, 1853, p. 36. 



ORIGIN OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 31 

dren of the newcomers.^ Consequently Dr. Neill, 
who was the first superintendent of public schools for 
Minnesota and the founder of its public school system, 
one of the very best in the United States, planned to 
establish a school for higher learning, which he hoped 
would eventually develop into a college. Under his 
leadership J. C. Whitney, J. G. Reihldaffer, Gideon H. 
Pond, Alexander Ramsey, William R. Marshall, 
Henry L. Moss, Henry F. Mastermann and Alpheus 
G. Fuller, pioneers, eminent for their service in the 
state and in the church, organized themselves into a 
board of trustees and established a school for higher 
learning. Dr. Neill was made president of this school 
and successfully solicited aid from friends in Phila- 
delphia. Foremost among these was Mr. M. W. 
Baldwin, the locomotive builder. In his honor the 
new school was named the Baldwin School. It was 
a substantial two-story brick building, located on the 
site occupied by the present St. Paul Post Office build- 
ing, between Market and Washington streets. By 
an act of the legislature it was incorporated Feb. 26 
1853- 

The total attendance for the first year was 71, of 
which 2S were boys and 43 were girls. While the or- 
ganizing of Baldwin School was under way. Dr. Neill 
contemplated the beginning of a college for young men, 
as can be gleaned from a letter he wrote to Mr. Baldwin 

iThe white population of Minnesota in 1850 was 6,077 ' in 
i«53, 10,000; in 1855, 50,000; in 1856, 100,000. In 1854 only 
314,715 acres were sold; in 1855, 1.132,672; in 1856, 2,334,000. 
History of Minnesota, by Folwell, p. 121 



32 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

in December, 1852 ; "Christian business men have been 
the builders up and the sustainers of every educa- 
tional institution of high grade in the United States. 
It is my desire to see the Baldwin Preparatory School 
in operation. The preparatory school being erected, 

and the school under v^ay, let dollars be laid 

aside every year for the Baldwin College."* As Mr. 
Baldwin approved the plans outlined in this letter, Mr. 
Neill felt encouraged to work for the proposed col- 
lege. In a letter to this above-named friend he wrote 
on October 12, 1853 : "Already you will perceive by 
looking at the catalogue, that there are quite a num- 
ber of boys attached to the girls' school. Now there 
must be a college in this portion of the Mississippi 
Valley. The picturesqueness of the scenery will make 
it a classic spot for students. For the sum of $5,000 
a building can be erected which would serve for the 
purpose of preparatory grammar school, a chapel on 
Sunday and a lecture room during winter nights, to 
which young men may be attracted from the saloons 
and gambling establishments. I propose that there 
shall be a young man to act as tutor to the grammar 
school, and one college professor, who shall hear reci- 
tations, lecture during winter evenings and preach 
in the chapel. I propose the institution, comprising 
the classical and scientific departments of the Bald- 
win School, shall be called Calvary College. I also 
propose to resign my position as minister of the First 
Church, and hold the position of Professor of English 

^Neill's Brief History of Macalester College, p. i. 



ORIGIN OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 33 

Literature and History in the Baldwin or Calvary 
Collie." 

Dr. Ne-ll's plan was received favorably by the 
patrons of the Baldwin School and was approved by 
Mr. Baldwin, and by the Rev. Albert Barnes of Phila- 
delphia, who also had become interested in the Bald- 
win School and afterward contributed liberally 
towards its support, giving largely from the sale of 
his books, which were translated into French and 
German. But in deference to the Puritan prejudice 
against the naming of institutions after localities as- 
sociated with the life of Jesus, the male department 
of the Baldwin School was incorporated as the Col- 
lege of St. Paul, instead of Calvary College.^ "In 
the spring of 1855," says Dr. Neill, in his brief history 
for the use of his friends, "at a meeting of the friends 
of the projected college for Minnesota, held in Phila- 
delphia, Mr. M. W. Baldwin being in the chair, the 
Rev. Edward D. Neill was elected president." 2 

During the summer a stone edifice for the gram- 
mar "school of the college was commenced in St. Paul, 
opposite the residence of W. L. Banning. According 
to the account of H. Knox Taylor, a pioneer, who was 
identified with Dr. Neill's efforts in religious and 
educational work, this building stood on the ground 
now occupied by the Little Sisters of the Poor, at No. 

^Historical address by Dr. Neill on the Early Days of the 
Presbyterian Church in Minnesota, delivered before the Synod 
of Minnesota September 6th, 1873. Minutes of the Synod of 
Minnesota, 1873, p. 23. 

2 Neill's Brief History of Macalester College, page i. 



34 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

90 Wilkin Street. As such the school was incor- 
porated under a separate charter. 

In 1S54 appeared the catalogues of the Baldwin 
►School and the Academic Department of the College 
of St. Paul which contained this announcement: 
"The design of the projectors of Baldwin School was 
the establishment of a series of schools for the edu- 
cation of both sexes. The Female Preparatory De- 
partment was first commenced, because there were 
more of that sex prepared to avail themselves of the 
advantages afforded. 

The impression was thus gained that the Bald- 
win School was intended for the education of female 
youth. It has therefore been deemed expedient to 
distinguish the male department by the name of the 
College of St. Paul, which has authority granted to 
it to confer all the degrees usually conferred by col- 
leges and universities. The Corporators are aware 
that a permanent institution of learning must be of 
slow growth, and their arrangements have been based 
upon this fact, with a firm belief that their strength 
is 'in quietness and confidence.' 

It is proposed to have three Departments, the 

I. Academic. 

II. Scientific or Practical. 

III. Collegiate or Classical. 

The Academic Department is already in opera- 
tion under the rectorship of R. H. Ewing, M. D., and 
is designed to teach the elementary principles of an 
English and Classical education. 



ORIGIN OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 35 

THE PRACTICAL DEPARTMENT. 

th a country so youthful, the demand is for prac- 
tical men, rather than complete scholars. This De- 
partment is proposed to meet the felt deficiency. It 
will be opened for six months of every year and will 
give instruction in Civil Engineering, Chemistry of 
the Arts and Agriculture, Mechanics, Geology, His- 
tory and Constitution of the LTnited States, Mercantile 
Law and Ethics. 

The Collegiate Department will correspond with 
similar departments in the universities of the United 
States, and will furnish a four years' course of study." 

The hard times of 1857 and the following year 
greatly hindered the development of these institutions. 

At the second meeting of the Synod of Minnesota, 
New School, 1859,^ Dr. Neill secured the appointment 
of a committee on Collegiate Education, of which he 
was made chairman. Nothing was accomplished, 
however, owing to a lack of interest by the people. A 
probable explanation of this lack of interest in the 
proposed college may be found in the weakness of the 
denomination. The Presbyterian Church at that time 
was divided into the New School and the Old School 
branches, both of which established churches in Min- 
nesota. The New School branch consequently was 
not so strong as it would have been had it not been 
obliged to share the field with the Old School Presby- 



iThe minutes of the Synod prior to the union of the Old 
School and the New School were printed on four-page leaflets 
and have not been collected in book form. 



36 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

teriaiis. Furthermore, Dr. Ne'll being a liberal theo- 
logian and leaning toward ritnalism, was not in favor 
of a strictly denom national college. The Civil War 
following caused a prolonged pause in the develop- 
ment of the enterprise. 

During the great national crisis of 1861-1865, Dr. 
Neill served his country as a Minnesota soldier. On 
April 2Tst, i86t, he was made chaplain of the First 
Minnesota Infantry. In his absence, interest in the 
college abated. Deprived of the encouragement of 
h's presence and leadership, the trustees concluded to 
close the schools, and in time disposed of the build- 
ings and real estate. 

In 1864, Dr. Neill resigned his chaplamcy and was 
appointed one of the secretaries to Pr^s^'dent Lincoln. 
In this position he again devoted himself to the in- 
terests of higher education in Minnesota. Although 
absent in body, he was present with his friends in 
spirit, and advised wUh them and planned for them 
even greater thmgs than before. Again he solicited 
Mr. Baldwin's interest for a Minnesota College. 
That gentleman responded to his friend's appeal, 
and it was agreed that a Baldwin University, similar 
in character to Leh^'gh University, founded by Asa 
Packer, should be created. 

Baldwin Lhiiversity which was expected to resume 
the work of the Baldwin School and of the College of 
St Paul, was incorporated in 1864. But while Mr. 
Baldwin was maturing plans for a large endowment 
his untimely end came, in 1866. Mr. Baldwin had 



ORIGIN OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 37 

made no provision in his will for the execution of his 
plans concerning Baldwin University. Soon there- 
after, in 1 869- 1 870, Dr. Neill was abroad as American 
consul in Dublin, and when he returned, in 1870, he 
found the trustees faint-hearted. The treasurer had 
made an unwise investment of several thousand dol- 
lars, and confidence in the future of the schools had 
waned. "Under these circumstances," said Dr. Neill, 
"it was evident that if a college for young men was 
to be established upon a Christian basis, in the vicin- 
ity of Minneapolis and St. Paul, it would have to be 
done by the patience, endurance and pecuniary sac- 
rifice of some one, owing to the apathy of the com- 
munity on that subject"^ 

Dr. Neill soon realized that he was that "some 
one." After consultation with a sister who heartily ap- 
proved of his plans and was willing to share the finan- 
cial obligations involved in the task, he determined 
to begin anew. This new educational enterprise was 
inaugurated in Minneapolis. On the site now occu- 
pied by the present International Stock Food Com- 
pany's building, overlooking the Falls of St. Anthony, 
stood the Winslow House which had been a famous 
summer resort in the ante-bellum days. Its chief 
patrons were southern planters. When the war of 
the rebellion began and the rich southerners discon- 
tinued their visits, its trade fell off and soon it passed 
into the hands of Charles Macalester of Philadelphia 

1 Neill's Brief History of Macalester College, p. 14. 



38 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

under mortgage foreclosure. In 1872 Dr. Neill re- 
opened the Baldwin School in the Winslow House. 

For two years he and his sister paid out of their 
private means, an annual rent of $1,200 for this build- 
ing and met all deficiencies for current expenses. 
Again the vision of a Christian nonsectarian college 
near the Twin Cities rose before his soul. But when- 
ever he endeavored to realize his fondest hope he 
found himself confronted with innumerable difficul- 
ties. 

In the stress of those days a remarkable scheme 
came into Dr. Neill's mind. His plan was to affiliate 
the Baldwin School with the recently reorganized 
State University, which began to make rapid progress 
as a real university under President Folwell's admin- 
istration. The aim was to furnish Christian instruc- 
tion to the university students who would room at the 
Winslow House and be under his care. At once the 
name Baldwin School was subordinated to a new and 
more pretentious one Jesus College. The college was 
advertised as a student's home, consisting of the Bald- 
win Grammar School, preparing students for the Uni- 
versity of Minnesota, and the School of Christian Lit- 
erature, supplemental to the State University. He as- 
sumed for himself the title. Provost of Jesus College. 

In a letter addressed to Hon. E. M. Wilson, Mayor 
of Minneapolis, the object of his new enterprise was 
fully stated. The following is a copy of the letter : 



ORIGIN OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 39 

"Falls of St. Anthony, P. O. 
Jesus College, 

Nov. I, 1872. 
Hon. E. M. Wilson, 

Mayor of Minneapolis. 
Dear Sir : 

Yesterday in your eloquent and instructive address 
at the dedication of the Scandinavian Lutheran Theo- 
logical Seminary, you kindly alluded to a Theologi- 
cal Seminary established on the east side of the Falls 
of St. Anthony. 

As many persons have asked me whether Jesus Col- 
lege was not a special school to prepare men for the 
pulpit, I have thought that perhaps you were alluding 
to the College of which I am the provost, and if so I 
take the liberty of correcting, through a letter tO' you, 
a misapprehension which is quite general. 

Jesus College is in no sense a Professional Divin- 
ity School. It is designed merely as a supplemental 
school to the University of Minnesota, which needs 
the support of all the good men of the state. 

It is hoped that in time. Christian parents will send 
their sons to Jesus College, where they will be under 
the same roof as the Provost, subject to all rules neces- 
sary to a gentle home culture, while at the same time 
enjoying all the advantages of University instruction 
at no additional expense. 

The College has at the present time but two 
schools : 



40 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

1. The Baldwin Grammar School. 

This is a preparatory school like Phillips Academy 
and other schools in New England, designed to pre- 
pare boys for the University of Mercantile pursuits. 

2. School of Christian Literature. 

No man can be thoroughly educated who does lOt 
know something of the history of the Bible ; of Jesus, 
the founder of our religion and civilization; and of 
the history of the church of Christ, before it was sep- 
arated into the Greek and Roman organizations. As 
the state cannot ghe any distinctive instruction upon 
these points in her University, I have thought that a 
supplemental school would receive a "God-speed" 
from Christian parents, who do not wish their sons to 
graduate without any critical acquaintance with the 
Bible; or the planting and training of the Church. 
The institution is called Jesus College, as is a college 
at Cambridge; and also at Oxford. It is a name 
above every other name, the name of Him who con- 
descended to be known as the Son of Mary and far 
more appropriate than the name of "Yale" or "Har- 
vard" or "Washington" or "Jefferson," or of any 
rich man like Girard, who may have given some 
wealth to education, which he could not use, after his 
body was laid in the grave. 

It has been chosen to show that the College was 
wholly Christian in its aim and yet designed not to 
interpret Christianity after the school of Luther or 
Calvin or Laud. 



ORIGIN OF MACALE^TER COLLEGE. 41 

The Institution is not under the supervision of the 
Presbyterian or any other branch of the church. It 
has been founded in truth and love, and desires the 
confidence of all those who so cling to the teachings 
of Jesus that it is impossible to keep them from peep- 
ing over their denominational fence. 

The dedication of the Augsburg Seminary yester- 
day rejoiced the heart of every good man, and I hope 
that the day may not be far distant, when we may see 
clustered around the University, the Divinity Halls of 
the followers of John Calvin and John Wesley as well 
as that of the followers of Martin Luther. 

Secular University instruction given by the state 
with separate Divinity Schools, supported by differ- 
ent branches of the church, would make your city the 
great educational metropolis of the valley of the Upper 
Mississippi and give to the whole state a learned, dis- 
ciplined and broad Christian ministry. 

I have the honor to be 

Yours faithfully, 
EDWARD D. NEILL." 



Th^re is no evidence to show that this project 
was received favorably by the University authorities 
or by the public in general. It is indicative, however, 
both of the earnest desire of Dr. Neill that religion 
and education should be affiliated, without the latter's 
bearing any denominational name, and of the im- 
practicable character of some of his undertakings. 
Jesus College remained a Utopian institution. Dr. 



42 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Neill himself soon gave up the plan outlined in his 
letter to Mayor Wilson. He probably later regarded 
it as a- sort of vagary, for in his autobiography and 
in the historical sketches of his various educational 
enterprises he nowhere refers to it. 

By the summer of 1873 he had returned to his 
earlier ambition of founding a college for men, and in 
corresponding with Mr. Macalester solicited his aid 
toward establishing such a school patterned after Yale, 
Amherst, Dartmouth and Princeton, proposing to call 
it Macalester College. The following letter written 
on August 23rd, 1873, inspired new hopes in Dr. Neill. 

"Dear Sir : Yours of the fifth is at hand. I am 
willing to donate the Winslow House property upon 
the terms set forth in your letter ; with a promise that 
it is to be used for educational purposes, and is not 
to be sold or encumbered; but if the contemplated 
enterprise sliould be a failure, or the building should 
cease to be used for the purpose above referred to, 
that the property should revert to me. 

"Faithfully Yours, 
"C. MACALESTER." 1 

Shortly before Mr. Macalester's death, which 
occurred December 9th, 1873, Dr. Neill selected two- 
thirds of the trustees of the old Baldwin institution to 
be trustees of Macalester College and "placed upon 
record the declaration that two-thirds of the trustees 
should be Presbyterian." ^ It was evidently his in- 

iSt. Paul Pamphlets, Article on Macalester College, p, 14. 
2 Neill's Brief History of Macalester College, p. 15. 



ORIGIN OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 43 

tention that the college should not be sectarian and yet 
he desired to have the confidence and support of all 
intelligent Presbyterians of the state. The other 
protestant denominations had by this time established 
their own colleges, and Dr. Neill saw himself limited 
principally to the Presbyterians for his constituency, 
hence the provision in the charter concerning the 
church connection of the trustees. 

Mr. Macalester's wishes were expressed by his 
only surviving child, in a letter to Dr. Neill : ''Upon 
your return from Dublin, my father was pleased to 
hear of your determination to lay the foundation of 
a college, upon a broad Christian basis, in the valley of 
the Upper Mississippi, and thought well of your sug- 
gestion that two-thirds of the trustees should be pew- 
holders or attendants upon worship in the Presbyterian 
churches of Minneapolis and St. Paul. My dear 
father's catholic spirit was not in sympathy with an 
exclusive sectarian college, and he would not have 
wished the trustees to hesitate in electing a good pro- 
fessor simply because he might be a Baptist or Congre- 
gationalist, provided he did not attempt to press his 
denominational dogmas upon students. With the ex- 
pectation that the college would remain under your 
supervision, he made the donation of the building upon 
the terms mentioned in his will." ^ 

By an act of the legislature, dated March 5th, 1874, 
the name "Baldwin University" was changed to "Mac- 

iMinutes of the Trustees of Macalester College, Record 
"A," Page 18, 19. 



44 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

alester College" and the corporate name of its Board 
of Control was designated : "The trustees of Macales- 
ter."^ The following persons were its first trustees : 
George L. Becker, Henry J. Horn, Henry M. Knox, 
Henry L. Moss, Alexander Ramsey, Edmund Rice, 
H. Knox Taylor and W. C. Baker, Levi Butler, Richard 
Chutt, W. W. McNair, J. S. Pillsbury, C. E. Vander- 
burg, J. C. Whitney and Eugene M. Wilson, e'ght 
from Minneapolis and seven from St. Paul. Of these 
AVilliam C. Baker was a Reformed Episcopalian, Levi 
Butler a Baptist, John S. Pillsbury a Congregational- 
ist. It was further provided by section 3 of the arti- 
cles of incorporation, that the preparatory department 
of Macalester should be known as the Baldwin School. 
A copy of the codicil of the will of Mr. Macalester, 
wherein he bequeathed the Winslow House to Mac- 
alester College, may be of interest to the reader. It 
is as follows : *T, Charles Macalester, the testator in 
the foregoing will named, do hereby make this codicil 
thereto : First, it is my will, and I do hereby order 
and direct that whenever within the period of three 
years from the time of my decease the executors of 
my said will are assured that the sum of twenty-five 
thousand dollars has been actually subscribed and paid, 
or satisfactorily secured, for endowment of an educa- 
tional institution at the Falls of St. Anthony, to be called 
the Macalester College, my said trustees thereof in fee 
simple, shall convey all th?.t certiin messuage known 



^See By-Laws of Macalester College, Adopted June 30, 
1903, p. 18. 



ORIGIN OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 45 

as the Winslow House, and the ground whereon the 
same is erected. * * * And it is my desire that 
when the said property is conveyed to the said college, 
or to the trustees thereof, it shall be held and used for 
no other purpose than as an educational institution. 
I earnestly enjoin it upon the trustees or directors of 
said college that in the event of their selling the said 
property at any time, the proceeds of the sale thereof 
shall be used only in and towards the erection of other 
buildings for such college." ^ 

At the time of Mr. Macalester's death the trus- 
tees lacked nine thousand dollars to complete the 
$25,000 for endowment necessary to comply with the 
provisions of the will.^ This amount was raised in 
January, 1874. and the fund was called the Baldwin 
Fund of Macalester College. President Neill's col- 
lege had now been launched. It was legally incor- 
porated, its trustees were influential men of practical 
experience in political aflfairs and in business life. 
They were determined to proceed slowly and carefully. 
Soon after incorporating the new college, the trustees 
issued a circular and announced that "the collegiate 
department will not be opened until two professor- 
ships are fully endowed, and meanwhile the prepara- 
torv department, known as the Baldwin School, will 
prepare boys for business or for any college, and will 
aim to be what Phillips Academy and Williston Sem- 
inary are in Massachusetts." 

iMinntes of the Trustees of Macalester College, Record 
"A," page 14. Minneapolis Tribune, Dec. 30, 1873. 
2Ditto. 



46 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

CHARLES MACALESTER.* 

Charles Macalester was born in Philadelphia, Feb. 
17th, 1798. His father came from Scotland in his 
early manhood and made his home in the city of 
Brotherly Love. As a master of ships he carried 
trade to Europe and the East Indies. Young Charles 
attended the pubHc schools of Philadelphia and after 
completing his early education he went west, spent 
a few years in Cincinnati, married, and returned to 
Philadelphia in 1827. Here he soon became interested 
in business matters on a large scale, and for 45 years 
took an active part in various enterprises and im- 
provements. He was a member of the firm Gaw, Ma- 
calester & Co., stock brokers; he was the agent and 
business correspondent of George Peabody, the 
American London banker; he was a director of the 
Fidelity Insurance, Trust & Safe Deposit Co.; di- 
rector of the Camden & Amboy Railroad Company, 
and was very successful in real estate investments in 
western cities, especially in Chicago. The eminent 
success of his business was attested by a fortune ex- 
pressed in millions. In politics he was a Jackson 
Democrat from 1828-1837; he was a trusted friend 
of Presidents Jackson, Van Buren, Polk, Fillmore, 
Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln and Grant. In the con- 
flict between the Government and the Bank of the 
United States he was a Government Director, which 
threw him into close connection with the leading men 
of that period. He was a friend and associate of 
such Whig leaders as Clay, Webster and Crittenden. 
When the Civil War began he supported the Repub- 
lican party and voted for Lincoln in 1864, and for 
Grant in 1868 and 1872. 

For many years he was an elder in the Second 
Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia and at various 
times served on several Boards and Committees of 
the General Assembly. In all these relations to the 
church he was faithful, wise and sagacious, giving 
his time and his means freely to the furtherance of 



* iPublic Ledger of Philadelphia, Dec. 10, 1873. 
2The Philadelphia Press, Dec. 10, 1873. 
3The Presbyterian, Philadelphia, Dec. 25, 1873. 
*The Public Ledger, Philadelphia, Dec. 10, 1873. 
'^Evening Telegraph, Philadelphia, Dec. 10, 1873. 
6The North American, Philadelphia, Dec. 10, 1873. 
"^Washington Chronicle, Dec. 12, 1873. 



ORIGIN OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 47 

the various schemes of benevolence. He was a trus- 
tee of the Presbyterian Hospital of Philadelphia and 
contributed liberally to its support. In his will he be- 
queathed $5,000 each to the Boards of Home and For- 
eign Missions, and to the Board of Education and the 
Fund for Ministerial Relief each $5,000. He was 
greatly interested in educational work, giving the 
Winslow House of Minneapolis to Macalester Col- 
lege, and was one of the trustees of the munificent be- 
quest left by George Peabody to promote the cause 
of education in the southern states of the union, 
known as the Peabody Southern Education Fund. 
He was also a trustee and devoted friend of the Jef- 
ferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and inter- 
ested in many other benevolent organizations. At the 
time of his death he was President of the St. An- 
drew's Society of Philadelphia, composed of Scotch 
residents and the descendents of Scotchmen. 

Mr. Macalester was an accurate business man, a 
model man at details, and a gentleman in every fibre. 
He was a lover of society, hospitable and punctilious 
in all social duties. "His toleration was a leading 
trait. The Catholic priest, the Episcopal bishop, the 
Presbyterian minister, the Quaker precision, were 
often seen in his home, and the Republican and Dem- 
ocrat, the Federal and the Confederate, joined hands 
over his social board." He was a man of cultivated 
tastes and possessed a fine library, a collection of rare 
historic pictures and valuablev manuscripts of past 
events. 

To this philanthropist and patriot Macalester Col- 
lege is indebted for its name. Mr. Macalester died, 
December 9, 1873, in his 76th year. He was sur- 
vived by one daughter and the widow and children of 
his only son, who had a short time before preceded 
him in death. 

The president and the trustees were hopeful that 
soon sufficient funds would be raised to complete the 
endowment of a second professorship. 

But the new college made no progress during the 
next four years. No further endowment was raised 
and no special interest in this enterprise was mani- 
fested by the public. 



48 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

The reasons for this halt in the progress of the un- 
dertaking are probably the following: i. Dr. Neill, 
while ambitious to organize an institution of learning, 
it now seems, was not so well qualified temperamental- 
ly for executing plans as he was fertile in conceiving 
them. 

2. At this time, when the president of a new col- 
lege should have been actively soliciting funds for his 
institution, he devoted himself to literary work for 
which his abilities eminently fitted him. 

3. The new college depended for its patronage 
upon the Presbyterian constituency. But scarcely had 
Macalester been incorporated when Dr. Neill left the 
Presbyterian communion and joined the Reformed 
Episcopal church, to which he was attracted both by 
his fondness for ritual and by his sympathy for what 
seemed to him a noble cause.^ 

The evident consequence was that by this act he 
cut off the new college from the natural constituency 
upon which it must depend for support, the Presby- 
terian church. Such conditions were discouraging. 
Minnesota was not ready to support a non-sectarian 
school for men. The trustees did not possess the 
means to endow the college by their own gifts, and 
began to realize that for a long time to come they 
would be unable to secure the funds necessary to give 



^Tlis move'Tient was led by Bishop Cummins, who left the 
Protestant Episcopal church, protesting against the Sacer- 
dotalism and Sacramentarianism of the High Church party. 
It had only a weak following in this country and never grew 
strong in the west. 



ORIGIN OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 49 

their institution a proper financial basis. And, finally, 
it became more and more certain that Dr. Neill did 
not possess the faculty of enlisting the hearty co-opera- 
tion of men of wealth and of the Presbyterian church 
in particular. 



CHAPTER III. 

MACALESTER BECOMES A DENOMINA- 
TIONAL COLLEGE. 

More and more the prospects of Dr. Neill's college 
became discouraging. But while the trustees were 
hesitating as to the proper disposition to be made of 
the institution on their hands, there gradually devel- 
oped a sentiment within the Presbyterian church favor- 
ing the establishment of a synodical college. The reun- 
ion of the Old and the New School branches of the 
Presbyterian church, in 1870, had given Presbyterian- 
ism increased strength. The united synod of Minne- 
sota was now in a position to make plans for the build- 
ing of a college if it at all wished to take up the work 
of Christian education. 

After the meeting of the New School synod, in 
1859, when a committee on collegiate education had 
been appointed, of which Dr. Neill had been made 
chairman, nothing was done until the seventies, when 
many in the church believed that it was in a condi- 
tion to consider such an undertaking. 

In the meantime other ecclesiastical organizations 
in Minnesota had forged ahead in the educational 
work. The Methodists opened Hamline University 
at Red Wing as early as 1854; the Roman Catholics 
founded St. John's University, a Benedictine school 



BECOMES DENOMINATIONAL. 51 

at Collegeville, in 1857; Gtistavus Adolphus,i under the 
care of the Swedish Lutheran church, was started at 
St. Peter, in 1862; the EpiscopaHans estabHshed the 
Seabury Divinity School in i860, and the Shattuck 
School in 1865 ; Carleton College was founded by the 
Congregationalists, and began preparatory work in 
1867 and college work in 1870; and in 1869 Augsburg 
Seminary in Minneapolis was opened. 

On the first day of October, 1870, the reunited 
synod resolved to recommend to its churches the es- 
tablishment of a Presbyterian college.2 But for that 
year and the following one the synod did not take any 
steps to carry out this recommendation, and the reso- 
lution remained merely a matter of record. 

Is it worth while to inquire for the reason of this 
failure to act? The Presbyterian church has always 
been a friend of sound learning; why did it not emu- 
late the forwardness of other denominations in the 
work of Christian education? Not one but a number 
of answers must be given to this question. Among 
others, the following are pertinent. 

In the first place, the Presbyterians who were in- 
terested in founding a Christian college were already 
identified with Dr. Neill's efrorts to establish a non- 
sectarian school for men. 

Secondly, among some others, a considerable num- 
ber, there was a strong feeling that Presbyterians and 

lUnited States Bureau of Education, No. 31, History of 
Education in Minnesota contains valuable information on 
some of the above named institutions. 

^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota 1870, p. 1=;. 



S2 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

L^ongregaticnalists, being so similar in faith, might 
imite in the support of the one college which the 
Congregat'onalists had founded already at Northfield. 

Thirdl^v, the Presbyterian church, not only in Min- 
nesota, but in general, until 1880, had neglected sadly 
the work of Christian education. Before 1877 the 
Presbyterian Church in America in no way showed a 
pronounced interest in that kind of endeavor, and 
left the building of colleges to the other denomina- 
tions. 

Fourthly, many ministers and laymen believed that 
educational work should be left to the state. Such, 
at least, seems to be the meaning of the report of the 
svnod's committee on an educational institution sub- 
mitted in 1872, which w^as as follows: 

"Although the commencement of a collegiate in- 
stitution, especially intended for the education of 
young men connected with the Presbyterian families 
and churches of this Synod, seems to your 
committee to be very desirable on many ac- 
counts, still we cannot see the way open to 
recommend it at present. Neither the means nor the 
men to properly manage such an institution are, in the 
judgment of your committee, at our command. But 
we think the way is open and the demand is upon us 
for the establishment and the fostering of one or 
more Presbyterial academies, within the bounds of 
each of the three Presbyteries in iMinnesota. 

Our brother, Rev. E. D. Neill, has recently opened 
an institution in the Winslow House, in St. Anthony, 



BECOMES DENOMINATIONAL. 53 

or East Minneapolis, which we hope and believe will 
fill the idea of your committee as an academic or in- 
cipient collegiate or classical school within the bounds 
of the Presbytery of St. Paul. We would recommend 
that the churches of that Presbytery should give our 
brother Nelll their confidence and support, and avail 
themselves of the proposed Christian culture of that 
infant institution. 

2. We would recommend to the brethren of the 
Presbytery of Mankato that they take into considera- 
tion at an early day, the practicability of establishing, 
at some central point, as St. Peter or Mankato, an 
academy to be under the control and supervision of 
that Presbytery. 

3. Your committee have had placed in their hands 
an overture from the Presbytery of Winona asking 
that steps be taken as soon as practicable, to secure an 
institution of learning within the bounds of synod and 
to be under its control, such an institution as will meet 
the wants of the church and be adapted to promote the 
cause of Christ and of sanctified learning in this im- 
portant part of the Northwest. 

To this we would respond by asking the members 
of that Presbytery to take immediate steps for the es- 
tablishment of a good academy at some desirable point. 

From these preparatory institutions we shall hope 
at no distant day one may be selected and advanced 
to the status of a colleg^'ate institute, which shall 
meet the wants of the Presbyterian church in this 
part of the country. 



54 MACALESTER COLLEGE. ' 

And in the meantime, and so long as the Univer- 
sity of Minnesota holds out to us the prospect of a 
higher education and Christian culture for the sons 
of our church, we recommend that the Presbyterian 
influence and moral support of this, state be accorded 
to it.^ 

S. R. RIGGS, 
J. B. LITTLE, 
J. C. WHITNEY, 
W. S. WILSON, 
E. J. THOMPSON, 
J. N. TREADWELL." 
But at the meeting of the General Assembly of 
1877 the Committee on Ministerial Education recom- 
mended that the church enter into closer relationship 
with the colleges, and that some means be devised for 
promoting an organized effort to create new colleges 
where needed.^ The outcome of the whole matter was 
the organization of the Board of Aid for Colleges and 
Academies in 1883.^ 

This action of the General Assembly gave the move- 
ment for educational endeavor a decided impulse 
throughout the entire Presbyterian church, and within 
the synod of Minnesota even more rapid progress was 
m_ade than was suggested by the synod itself. Incited 
by the establishment of the new Norwegian Lutheran 
College of St. Olaf, at Northfield, in this state in 1875, 
making the fifth denominational college for Minnesota, 

iMinutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1872, pp. 79 and 80. 
2Minutes of the General Assembly, 1877, p. 535. 
^Minutes of the General Assembly, 1883, p. 589. 



BECOMES DENOMINATIONAL. 55 

and by the actions of the General Assembly in 1877 and 
1878 some Presbyterian ministers and laymen con- 
cluded that the time had come for the synod to un- 
dertake the founding of a synodical college. It was 
evident that Macalester would not thrive as an un- 
denominational school. Therefore, as it held val- 
uable property and had a small endowment also, the 
adoption of that institution as the synodical college 
suggested itself to many minds. 

At a meeting of the synod held at Red Wing 
October 10 to 14, 1878, Rev. D. R. Breed, the pastor 
of the House of Hope church, and an intimate friend 
of Dr. Neill, presented the following resolution on 
the forenoon of October 12th : "Resolved, that a com- 
mittee of five be appointed to consult and co-operate 
with the trustees of Macalester College with a view 
to the immediate establishment of an educational in- 
stitution in connection with this synod. Second, that 
this committee be empowered to solicit funds if need 
be, and if they find the first resolution impracticable, 
to act as trustees for another institution to be here- 
after incorporated, to be under the supervision of this 
synod. Third, that the committee may employ, when 
found necessary, an agent, at a salary which they 
shall fix and for which they may provide."^ This 
resolution was adopted and the following persons 
were appointed by synod to be the committee which 
was instructed to report at the next meeting of the 
synod; Revs. R. B. Abbot; D. R. Breed; D. Rice, 

^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1878, p. 244. 



56 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

D. D. ; Hon. C. E. Vanderburgh and D. W. IngersolL 
This was the first definite action taken by the synod 
looking toward the estabhshment of a Presbyterian 
college. 

Many Presbyterians of Minnesota began to real- 
ize that it was high time for them to undertake their 
share in the work of education. The example of 
Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Methodists and 
Lutherans, spurred them on to emulate these in 
this work. They realized, too, that there was 
no other feasible way of providing the requisite num- 
ber of ministers for coming years. Not one Presby- 
terian youth graduating in other denominational col- 
leges of the state had until then entered the Presby- 
terian ministry. Taken from Presbyterian homes aiid 
placed under other denominational influences they 
drifted away from the church that reared them and de- 
pended on them. The synod was never unfriendly to 
our State University, but on several occasions ex- 
pressed its interest in that school and its gratification 
that its "curriculum of study was so comprehensive 
and thorough," and that the religious influence of the 
University was "so largely salutary." This can be 
seen from a resolution adopted by the synod in 1877,^ 
V\^hich read : 

"The Synod having heard the statements of Rev. 
Prof. E. Thompson, a m.ember of this body, concern- 
ing the present and prospective condition of our 

^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1877, Appendix, p. 
226. 



BECOMES DENOMINATIONAL. 57 

State University, and of the influence it continues to 
exert in behalf of higher education and Christian 
morality, desire to express our interest in this in- 
creasingly important institution, which he represents, 
our gratification that its curriculum of study is so 
comprehensive and thorough, that the religious in- 
fluence of the University is so largely salutary, and 
our disposition to lend our support to the same, so 
long as, without being sectarian, it is not unchristian ; 
believing as we do that the union of education and 
Christianity is not merely conventional, but real and 
operative, and as such can secure the highest style 
of civilization and the permanence of our free insti- 
tutions." 

But the church was beginning to realize anew that 
protestantism depends on an enlightened laity, versed 
in the Scriptures, just as much as on an educated min- 
istry. It felt, too, that however thorough the courses 
of study in an institution of learning, if it omit the 
Bible from its curriculum, it is deficient in one im- 
portant discipline, and is narrow. That some state 
university students had realized this is apparent 
from an editorial article which appeared in the Ariel 
for April, 1889 (a University of Minnesota publica- 
tion), which contained the following paragraph: *Tt 
is a matter of constant regret that religious instruc- 
tion does not find a place in the college curriculum. 
Viewed in its intellectual aspect, Christian'ty is a 
deep philosophy which demands close and earnest 
study, and which should be investigated by the same 



58 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

means that are employed in the secular branches. A 
few colleges — and some we believe state institutions 
— have introduced Biblical study as an elective; pos- 
sibly we may some day be able to do so here. As an 
offset to this philosophy of infidelity, we must place 
the philosophy of Christianity." Minnesota Uni- 
versity, since its organization has been fortunate in 
having at its head and in many of its departments 
men of pronounced Christian convictions, who by 
their examples and influence have done much to en- 
courage the students to live a sober Christian life. 
Only recently, 1909, Dr. Northrop, the distinguished 
president of the Minnesota State University, called 
the attention of the summer school students to the 
prevailing ignorance of the Bible among the college 
students of the country. He deplored this state of 
affairs in very strong language, and urged the stu- 
dents to make themselves familiar with the teachings 
of the Great Book. And yet, those having charge of 
schools supported by public funds, have been obliged 
to regard as inexpedient, if not positively illegal, all 
attempts to oft'er instruction in this source of Wisdom 
and Truth except as it can be used as a course in 
English Literature.^ 

^Revised Laws of Minnesota, 1905, Appendix, p. 1179, 
Article 8, Sec. 3. "The legislature shall make such provi- 
sions by taxation or otherwise, as, with the income arising 
from the school fund, will secure a thorough and efficient 
system of public schools in each township in the state. But 
in no case shall the moneys derived as aforesaid, or any por- 
tion thereof, or any public moneys or property, be appropri- 
ated or used for the support of schools where in the dis- 
tinctive doctrines, creeds or tenets of any particular Christian 
or other religious sect are promulgated or taught." 



BECOMES DENOMINATIONAL. 59 

There were then two important reasons why the 
synod purposed the estabhshment of a denominational 
college; and they were the same reasons that have 
actuated the founding- of most of our Christian insti- 
tutions of higher learning. One was to provide for the 
training of a Christian ministry in the new Northwest ; 
the other to exercise an uplifting influence upon the 
people at large by educating young men who would 
enter into business or professional walks, thoroughly 
grounded in the principles of the Christian religion, and 
thereby fitted to serve the interests of the kingdom of 
God. They realized ''that the peril of a new country is 
the peril of materialism and sensualism.^ The struggle 
for living is necessarily so intense .that it may overcome 
the endeavor for life in higher and larger relations. 
The peril is as constant, as it is keen, that the absorp- 
tion of physical and intellectual energy in the forms of 
endeavor which appeal to the senses, may leave little 
or no force to be expended upon the primary elements 
of a higher civilization, * * * The citizens of a 
state and members of a church in the newer parts of 
America have often based themselves in their concep- 
tion of education upon the belief of Francis Lieber : 
'Christianity, considered as a branch of knowledge, con- 
stituted an indispensable element in the liberal educa- 
tion, but that Christianity taken solely as an historical 
fact is incomparably the mightiest factor in the annals 
of the human society ; that it has tinctured and pene- 
trated all systems of knowledge, all institutions both 

iThwing, Higher Education in America, p. 229. 



6o MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

civil and exclusively social, the laws, the languages, 
the literature of the civilized nations, their ethics, 
their tastes and wants/ The founders, therefore, of a 
college in the name of a church have not felt them- 
selves apart from the human motive. They have be- 
lieved and declared that the highest and largest pur- 
pose in the higher education for the enrichment 
and improvement of mankind was most directly 
and effectively gained through the establishment of a 
Christian college."^ 

Inasmuch as an institution largely under the con- 
trol of Presbyterians was already incorporated and 
well located, the synod in 1878 made overtures to the 
trustees of Macalester College relative to adopting it. 
This action was welcomed by the trustees of the col- 
lege who probably were fully as anxious to find a 
constituency as to advance the interests of Presby- 
terianism. 

There were, hov/ever, a few circumstances which 
impeded the process of transferring the college to the 
synod. These were that the name, location, govern- 
ment and presidency of Macalester College were set- 
tled by the founders and believed to be irrevocable.^ 
The synod committee appointed to consider the es- 
tablishing of a college believed that since endowment 
and support would largely come from the synod, 
therefore that body should have a voice in determin- 
ing the most essential features of the school ; above all, 



^History of Education in Indiana, p. 138. 
^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1879, p. 270. 



BECOMES DENOMINATIONAL. 6i 

that its president should be a Presbyterian. (At that 
particular time Dr. Neill was no longer of the Presby- 
terian communion, but was rector of the Calvary Re- 
formed Episcopal Church in St. Paul.) Naturally, 
the Presbyterians were somewhat distrustful of an 
institution whose president had transferred his 
ecclesiastical allegiance to another denomination, from 
their faith. (The Reformed Episcopal church was 
numerically and financially weak, and little had been 
done by it to aid Macalester.) 

In the course of the negotiations, however. Presi- 
dent Neill sent in his resignation, to take effect when- 
ever thirty thousand ($30,000) dollars had been raised 
for the endowment of the presidency and a Presby- 
terian selected for the office. The trustees of the col- 
lege even suggested to the synod that it nominate the 
president and at least one-half of the Board of Trus- 
tees, members of the board at that time cheerfully pro- 
posing to resign in order to permit the synod to fill 
the vacancies. 

Dr. Neiirs proposition rendered the situation 
favorable for the adoption of Macalester College by the 
synod. At its meeting at St. Peter, October 15th, 
1880, on the afternoon of that day, by a vote of 47 to 
15 the synod recognized Macalester as its educat'onal 
institution. The procedure by which this undenom- 
inational Christian school became a denominational 
college was very simple. It consisted in the adoption 
of the following resolution: "Resolved, That ac- 
cepting the generous propositions of the Board of 



62 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Trustees of Maxalester College, synod will heartily co- 
operate with the Trustees in the effort to speedily and 
liberally endow Macalester College, and do hereby 
recommend it to the sympathy and support of the 
churches under our care."^ 

The synod neither demanded nor recomm.ended 
any change in the charter of the college. It did not 
then accept the offer to name one-half of the trustees, 
has never since claimed a right to do so, and does 
not nominate a single trustee today. The synod has 
never elected a president to the institution, and in two 
instances only, in the case of Dr. McCurdy, the first 
president of Macalester as a synodical college, 
and in 1894 when the trustees of the col- 
lege requested the synod to suggest a president 
and it presented the name of Dr. Wallace, 
has it nominated or recommended a man to that 
office.^ Since that time the practice has been that the 
synod endorse the election made by the trustees. 
Thus it can be seen that the relation between the col- 
lege and the synod has been a very loose one. The 
synod does not exercise a direct control over the col- 
lege. The only change made in the charter after 
Macalester became a synodical institution was effected 
on February 17th, 1885,^ when the stipulation in ref- 
erence to the character of the Board of Trustees was 
amended by adding the following paragraph : "Two- 
thirds of said Board of Trustees shall be members of 

^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1880, p. 306. 
^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1894, P- 557- 
^Rules and By Laws of Macalester College, p. 18. 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 63 

the Presbyterian church in the United States of 
America." This amendment to the charter was made., 
not to impress indubitably upon the college the seal 
of Presbyterianism, but to entitle it to be a beneficiary 
of the Board of Aid for Colleges and Academies of 
the Presbyterian Church. That Board at its organiza- 
tion in 1883 adopted this law: "Every institution 
hereafter established, as a condition to receiving aid, 
shall be either organically connected with the Presby- 
terian church in the U. S. of A., or shall by charter 
provision perpetually have two-thirds of its Board of 
Control members of the Presbyterian church."^ 
This, however, is sufficient to stamp Macalester Col- 
lege as a denominational school and to exclude it 
from the benefits of the Carnegie Teachers' Pension 
Fund. 

In 1880, when the synod adopted the college, it had 
an endowment fund of $25,000 and a building valued 
at from $55,000 to $60,000, for which $40,000 had 
been offered. To many pastors and laymen this 
seemed a splendid beginning for the synodical col- 
lege. 

^Minutes of the General Assembly, 1883, p. 589. 



CHAPTER IV. 
THE OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 

At this point in our history a brief statement con- 
cerning the material and economic conditions of Min- 
nesota and the strength of the Presbyterian church of 
the state may be helpful in showing whether the times 
were favorable for the new college to secure the funds 
necessary for endowment, for that was the determin- 
ing factor in this dubious experiment. In 1853, Gov- 
ernor Ramsey had prophesied that in twenty years 
Minnesota would have a population of half a million. 
When the 7th decade of the 19th century opened, the 
census report showed that there were 439,706 people 
in the state.^ During the next ten years St. Paul and 
Minneapolis more than doubled their number, the 
former having grown from 20,200 to a city of 41,474, 
while the latter experienced an even greater develop- 
ment and advanced from a population of 18,979 to 
46,887. Duluth in 1870 was a small town, having 
about 4,500 residents. The rural districts kept pace 
with the urban progress. Agricultural development 
was greatly facilitated by the development of the rail- 
way system of the state, which increased during the 

^See census report 1880, or the article on Minnesota by W. 
W. Folwell in the Universal Cyclopedia and Atlas. 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 65 

seventies from 1,092 to 3,099 miles of completed track. 
The immigrants kept pouring in from the middle and 
the eastern states, from Canada and from across the 
sea, from Germany, England, Ireland and Scandi- 
navia. The population of the state increased from 
439,706 in 1870 to 780,773 in 1880. The lonely 
prairies became settled and the forests fell before the 
ax of the sturdy pioneers. In 1870 the total area of 
cultivated land amounted to 2,066,425 acres, and the 
cereal products in bushels were : wheat, 16,022,000 ; 
oats, 8,959,000; corn, 5,823,000; potatoes, 1,274,000; 
the total and per capita value of property had in- 
creased from $52,294,413 in i860 to $228,909,590 in 
1870.1 By 1880, the year in which the synod adopted 
Macalester College, wheat,, oats, corn and lumber 
were produced in astonishing quantities as these fig- 
ures indicate: wheat, 40,395,696 bushels; oats, 21,- 
069,425; corn, 15,478,050; barley, 3,'i63,86o. The 
total cultivated acreage had risen to 5,193,899, and 
the value of farm lands had risen to $193,724,260, 
while the total wealth of the state was valued at $792,- 
000,000, a gain of $563,095,410. The value of the 
flour exported in the seventies, increased from $5,718,- 
887 to $41,519,004.2 With this material prosperity the 
church endeavored to keep pace. When the union of 
the old and new school branches of the Presbyterian 
denomination was accomplished, in 1870, the synod of 
Minnesota consisted of four Presbyteries, 80 Ministers, 
118 churches, 4,764 communicants and a Sunday school 

^ Government Agricultural Report, 1870, p. 32, 

2 Census Report for 1890, Part III, Miscellaneous, p. 954. 



66 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

membership of 6,598. During the next ten years the 
strength of the church increased to five Presbyteries, 
112 ministers, 133 churches, 6,968 communicants and 
a Simday school membership of 8,898. The total 
contributions for all purposes increased from $57,570 
to $100,235.1 

The state and the church, therefore, as has been 
shown, were enjoying great prosperity when the synod 
adopted Macalester College in 1880. There was 
every reason to believe that the remarkable growth 
of the seventies would be surpassed in the eighties. 
Everything was teeming with new life and energy. 
Consequently the synod confidently expected that 
.shortly its college would be liberally endowed. But 
in this the trustees and the synod were deeply dis- 
appointed. The material development came as ex- 
pected. The population of the state swelled from 
780,773 to 1,301,826, the greatest increase for any 
decade in the history of the commonwealth. The 
Twin Cities and Duluth witnessed phenomenal growth. 
St. Paul's population advanced from 41,473 to 133,- 
156; Minneapolis grew even more rapidly than its 
neighboring rival, and in 1890 numbered 164,738; 
Duluth so favorably located for transportation pur- 
poses on Lake Superior became a commercial centre 
and grew from a village into a city of 33,115. The 
agricultural development of the state was equally 
marvelous. At the close of the eighties, the wheat 

1 Minutes of Synod of Minnesota, 1880, Statistical Report, 
p. 328-332. 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. e? 

harvest of Minnesota was 52,300,247 bushels ; oats, 
49,958,791 and corn 24,696,446.^ The total acreage 
increased from 5,193,899 to 9,253,239 with a value of 
farms and buildings amounting to $67,493,716, while 
the total and per capita wealth of the state was $1,691,- 
851,927.2 The best flour in the world was manu- 
factured in Minneapolis and sent to all lands. The 
output of lumber was third largest in the Union ^ and 
already Minnesota had earned for itself the title, the 
Bread and Butter State. The railroad mileage for 
steam railroads was 5,379.50.* 

The wealth of its iron ore was beginning to astonish 
the world. Mining was not attempted in Min- 
nesota until 1884, although as early as 1865 it had 
been known that there were mines in the northern 
part of the state. In 1884 the Vermillion and Mesabi 
mines were opened and yielded 62,124 tons of iron 
ore; in 1889 their product amounted to 2,347,557 
tons, and in 1890, 9,000,000 tons were shipped from 
Duluth.5 

During this decade the church also made great 
forward strides, so that in 1890 the synod had 153 
ministers, 183 churches, 12,028 communicants, and 



^Census Report 1890, Part IIL Miscellaneous, p. 371. 
2Census Report 1890, Part IIL Miscellaneous, p. 594. 
^Census Report 1890, Part IIL Miscellaneous, p. 843. 
^Census Report, Part III, 1890, Miscellaneous, p, 895. 
°See Winchel, The Ores of Minnesota, 1891. 



68 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

the Sunday school enrollment totaled 18,426. The ■ 
benevolences increased to $115,423.1 

But in the face of all these efforts of material and 
ecclesiastical prosperity the effort of the synod during 
the first five years of the eighties to endow the col- 
lege failed. What were the causes militating against 
the speedy endowment of Macalester? The fol- 
lowing facts may, in a measure, but surely not wholly, 
answer that question. 

1. The wealth of Minnesota was to a consider- 
able degree of a form which was not readily convert- 
able into cash. There were few people who had 
ready money. Whatever profits were realized were 
quickly turned into new investments. The wealth of 
Minnesota consisted largely of real estate or crude 
property. 

2. Many owners of real estate, farmers and busi- 
ness men had borrowed heavily of eastern capital, 
expecting that in the next fifteen or twenty years, 
i. e., in the late eighties or in the nineties, they 
would realize great returns on their investments. 
That the state enjoyed a wonderful prosperity is true. 
Minnesota did not hide its light under a bushel. It 
boasted of its resources and its wealth. The Twin 
Cities in particular arrested the attention of the busi- 
ness world by their excellent opportunities for com- 
mercial and industrial activities. One of the greatest 
booms in the history of the American nation was on. 

^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1890, Statistical Re- 
port, pp. 250-256. 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 69 

Moneyed men in the east made fortunes in the North- 
west. This led easterners to over-estimate the ability 
of the Presbyterians of Minnesota to endow their 
college. Twenty years earlier it probably would 
have been easier to raise funds in the east. The his- 
tory of Carleton College may illustrate this. Until 
1 87 1, Carleton (then Northfield College) experienced 
a precarious existence. Then just as the period of 
rapid development began in Minnesota it received 
large gifts from New England friends. William 
Carleton alone gave $50,000 without a single condi- 
tion;^ Miss Susan Willis, $15,000, and from other 
friends, before 1875, President Strong secured $28,- 
000, a grand total of about $93,000 raised in New 
England. Before that the college had annual def- 
icits; Congregationalism in Minnesota was not 
strong enough to maintain its college. Then at the 
critical momement generous aid came from New 
England, where President Strong had warm personal 
friends. But for such help just at this time it is 
difficult to see how the Congregational college could 
have survived. During the early period all the col- 
leges of the state, most of all, probably, Hamline Uni- 
versity^ which in 1869 was obliged to close its doors, 
found the task of securing funds to carry on their 
work a most difficult one. 

3. Perhaps another reason for the difficulty the 

^Leonard, History of Carleton College, Chapters V. and VL 
2 Hamline University, by Prof. E. F. Mearkle and Henry 
L. Osborn in the United :3tates Bureau of Education, No. 31, 
The History of Education, in Minnesota, p. 175. 



70 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

trustees of Macalester College found in raising the 
endowment for the college was the synod's policy re- 
garding its educational work. When the synod, in 
1878, adopted Dr. Breed's resolutions concerning an 
educational institution the location of the synodical 
college was an open question. At once different 
towns expressed a desire to secure the school for 
their respective communities. The strongest aspirant 
outside of the Twin Cities was Albert Lea. The citi- 
zens of Albert Lea pledged the synod the sum of 
$25,000, $15,000 in cash, $2,500 in a location and 
$2,500 in railroad transportation. About one-third 
of the members of the synod favored locating the 
svnodical colleore at Albert Lea. To the other two- 
thirds it seemed a more feasible plan to adopt the 
Macalester College at St. Anthony Falls, including 
its endowment of $25,000 and property worth at least 
$40,000. The majority did not deem it advisable to 
locate the synod's college in the extreme southeastern 
part of the state, near the Iowa boundary line. It 
was thought that Macalester would be more centrally 
situated so that its position would probably render it 
more attractive to students residing in the states of the 
farther Northwest, as the Dakotas, Montana and 
Wyoming. By a majority vote Macalester College 
was adopted as the synodical college. It was re- 
garded as an unfortunate circumstance that the 
synod was not entirely united in its support of the 
new institution; but finally complete harmony was 
secured by an action of the same body, taken the fol- 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 71 

lowing day, looking to the establishment of a synodi- 
cal female college at Albert Lea.^ For the conve- 
nience of those who do not have easy access to the 
records of these transactions, extracts from Minutes 
of the Synod of Minnesota bearing on this part of 
our history are here reprinted : "The Committee of 
synod on an Educational Institution beg leave to re- 
port as follows : 

1. That Macalester College has been established 
and secured as a college under Presbyterian control, 
by a provision in accordance with the wish of the 
founder adopted by the Board of Trustees, whereby 
two-thirds of the Trustees must be communicants of 
or attendants at the worship of the Presbyterian 
church, and also by a by-law of the corporation re- 
quiring that two-thirds of the Trustees shall always 
be Presbyterians. 

2. That such college has toward an endowment 
fund, twenty-five thousand ($25,000) dollars in cash 
securities, bearing interest, and a building estimated 
by an architect as worth fifty-five ($55,000) or sixty 
thousand ($60,000) dollars, and for which forty 
thousand ($40,000) dollars have been offered. 

3. That President Neill has sent in his resignation, 
to take effect whenever thirty thousand ($30,000) dol- 
lars have been raised for the endowment of the presi- 
dency, and a Presbyterian selected for the office. 

^For a detailed account of this transaction the reader is 
referred to the Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota for 1880, 
pp. 305-313- 



72. MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

4. The Trustees have expressed their wish that 
tlie college may be in the fullest sympathy with the 
views and wishes of the synod, and their willingness, 
if synod so desire, that it should nominate the Presi- 
dent and at least one-half of the Board of Trustees, 
members of the present board, cheerfully resigning 
to make vacancies. 

5. Two things are fixed and only two, so that 
they can not be changed: (i) the name; (2) the 
location, which must be at or near the Falls of St. 
Anthony. 

6. The Trustees are reasonably hopeful of still 
further endowment from friends in the east. 

7. The Baldwin School has already been opened 
as a preparatory department of the college. 

8. The citizens of Albert Lea pledge to the synod 
the sum of twenty thousand ($20,000) dollars, viz.; 
fifteen thousand ($15,000) dollars in cash, two thou- 
sand five hundred ($2,500) dollars in a location, and 
two thousand five hundred ($2,500) dollars in rail- 
road transportation, if synod will establish a college 
at that place. 

9. It is the decided conviction of the committee 
of synod, that a college for Minnesota should be so 
liberally endowed by the Presbyterian church, as that 
in its facilities for the most thorough Christian edu- 
cation, it should be inferior to none; and that, in order 
to do this, it is of the utmost importance, that at the 
present time, if practicable, all the resources of synod 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 73 

for the higher education should be centered on the 
building of one institution. 

In view of all these facts, therefore, the committee 
recommend to synod the adoption of the following 
resolution : "Resolved, That, accepting the generous 
propositions of the Board of Trustees of Macalester 
College, synod will heartily co-operate with the Trus- 
tees in the effort to speedily and liberally endow Mac- 
alester College, and do hereby recommend it to the 
sympathy and support of all the churches under our 
care. D. W. Ingersoll, Chairman; Daniel Rice, 
Sec. pro tem; C. E. Vanderburg; R. F. Sample." 

This report vv^as adopted by the synod, as stated 
above, by a vote of 47 to 15, on the afternoon of 
October 15, 1880. Shortly after the opening of the 
synod on the next morning, Rev. R. B. Abbot of Al- 
bert Lea moved that the vote of yesterday, on the 
adoption of the majority report with reference to 
Macalester College, be made unanimous. The motion 
was quickly seconded and when the moderator called 
for a rising vote, there was a unanimous rising vote.^ 
The same forenoon the following resolution was 
adopted : " Resolved, That, in order to carry out the 
spirit of the report of the synod's committee on an 
educational institution, adopted at yesterday after- 
noon session, the following standing committee of co- 
operation with the Trustees of Macalester College be 
appointed; Presbytery of Mankato, Rev. J. B. Little; 
Presbytery of Red River, O. H. Elmer; Presbytery of 



^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1880, pp. 31 1» 3I2. 



74 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Dakota, Rev. S. E. Riggs, D. D. ; Presbytery of 
Winona,, Hon. Wm. Mitchell ; Dr. C. W. Ballard ; Pres- 
bytery of St. Paul, Hon. D. W. Ingersoll, Hon. C. C. 
Webster. 

2. ''That Hon. C. C. Webster be appointed con- 
vener of said committee, who, at their first meeting, 
shall elect their own officers. 

3. ''That the committee shall have plenary powers 
in all matters relating to the synod's interests in said 
institution with special reference to the electing of a 
Financial Agent to raise the amount necessary for the 
endowment of the Presidential Chair ($30,000.)'' 

Hardly had this resolution been adopted when^ Mr. 
West of Albert Lea was invited to address synod in 
reference to the establishment of a female college at 
Albert Lea. Messrs. H. D. Brown and Presbury West 
of Albert Lea were the representatives who had ap- 
peared before the synod on the previous day and had 
endeavored to secure the location of the synodical col- 
lege in their city. 

A careful study of the Minutes of the Synod of 
Minnesota, especially of that part which relates to a 
consideration of the advisability of establishing a de- 
nominational college, shows that until 1880 the synod 
was neither enthusiastic nor hasty in its actions. Its 
policy was extremely conservative. For a period of 
twent3''-one years, at one time or another, it had this 
subject under contemplation, and again and again it 
did not see its way clear to establish a college. Then, 

1 Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1880, p. 312. 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 75 

the Minutes record that in 1880, this same careful 
synod adopted one college and created another. The 
Synod of Minnesota suddenly entered upon a double 
educational enterprise. Without one word of warning 
the startling fact is recorded. Had not the synod on 
that same day unanimously adopted a resolution which 
recommended that ''the synod center all its resources 
on the building up of one institution ?" The history of 
Carleton College until 1880 was that of a great strug- 
gle with poverty ; Hamline University found conditions 
so adverse that it was obliged to close its doors in 1869 
and was just re-opened in St. Paul in 1880. St. Olaf 
College had passed through very trying times during 
the first five years of its existence and even the State 
University was obliged to pass through a period of 
struggle and uncertainty during the early years of its 
history. Why, then, did the Presbyterians, who were 
not ignorant of the experiences of their sister denomi- 
nations in educational work, undertake more than did 
the Methodists, or Congregationalists or Lutherans? 
This move, clearly, was inconsistent with the resolution 
passed less than twenty-four hours before, that ''the 
synod center all its resources on the building up of 
one institution," and there must have been strong rea- 
sons supporting such a sudden change of attitude on 
the question. What those reasons were is not fully 
disclosed by the report of the proceedings of that 
memorable synod or by the special correspondence 
from St. Peter, where the synod met.^ 

^St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 17, 1880. 



76 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Probably the correct explanation is that offered by 
members of that body who are still living. According 
to their version the controlling motive was one of 
expediency, it being believed that the adoption of a 
second institution, which should be a female college, 
would prove such a recognition of the different sec- 
tions of the synod as would prevent disappointment 
and promote internal peace. This view of the case is 
further favored by the well known fact that it was 
understood that Macalester would not be a co-educa- 
tional institution, and that fact furnished occasion for 
advocating the founding of a female college. 

Until the report of the committee on an educa- 
tional institution was made on October 15th, 1880, 
not one word in all the synod's reports can be found 
that furnishes the slightest suggestion concerning the 
establishment of a women's college. The committee 
in that report mentioned the importance of having 
only one synodical institution. That is the first hint 
of the possibility of establishing a second college. 

It was known that Dr. Neill was unalterably op- 
posed to co-education, and that he agreed to give Mac- 
alester College to the synod only on the understanding 
that it should be a college patterned after Amherst, 
Dartmouth, Yale and Princeton, that is, a college for 
men only. There was, however, nothing in the char- 
ter of Baldwin University (1864), nor in the 
amended charter of 1874, nor in the will of Mr. Mac- 
alester (1873), which forbade co-education. Dr. 
Neill's opposition to the education of both sexes in the 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. ^y 

same school was based on the ground that women 
could not master certain subjects that men should be 
required to take. 

Another argument advanced in favor of the found- 
ing of a separate women's college was that it could 
easily be made self-supporting. A few of the mem- 
bers of synod had been connected with small female 
seminaries and they were sure Albert Lea College 
would add no burden to the synod. Fifteen thousand 
dollars would give to the church a women's college 
that might some day be to Minnesota what Mount 
Holyoke is to Massachusetts. The first movement 
looking toward the establishment of a Presbyterian 
college was prompted by the necessity of providing 
young men for the ministry. Did the church not 
need young women missionaries, pastors' assistants, 
etc ? Was it fair to neglect the education of its young 
women? Albert Lea was willing to receive the col- 
lege for young women, although it reduced its original 
offer of $20,000 for the college for men to $15,000 
to secure the school for women. 

Persuaded by such considerations, the synod with- 
out a dissenting voice voted to establish a synodical col- 
lege at Albert Lea. It had become "impracticable" for 
the synod to found only one college, and so Rev. J. S. 
Sherrill introduced a resolution to accept the offer of 
the citizens of Albert Lea. The resolution began thus : 
"This synod deems it wise and expedient to found a fe- 



78 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

male college under its patronage and fostering care." ^ 
To many the whole question came une:?cpectedly. They 
had not considered the possibility of establishing a 
female school. But when they saw that harmony 
might be restored at little or no cost, they were per- 
suaded to assent to the plan. 

After thirty years have passed, the student who 
reviews dispassionately the records of the proceed- 
ings, with which we are now dealing, is met with such 
inquiries as the following: Was the action of the 
synod iri 1880, respecting the inception of educational 
work under synodical auspices, practical and wise? 
Was it expedient under all the conditions which then 
prevailed? Answers to these questions must be re- 
turned in the light of the subsequent history of Ma- 
calester and Albert Lea colleges. Whatever the final 
judgment on these matters, probably there are few, 
if any, who now will question the statement that the 
Synod of Minnesota at the time of which we write did 
not understand perfectly the economic conditions of 
the state ; that it was unfamiliar with its own constit- 
uency and not fully conversant with the educational 
situation within its bounds. 

It has become a trite saying with builders of new 
colleges that Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Dart- 
mouth began with small things and became strong 
institutions. It is true that m.ost of these early ven- 
tures had humble beginnings, right among the In- 
dians and among a people that did not belong to the 

^Minutes of Synod of Minnesota, 1880, p. 313. 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 79 

millionaire class. But if Harvard or Princeton or 
Dartmouth had been founded under conditions like 
those which surrounded Macalester and Albert Lea, 
would they have succeeded better? 

The colleges of New England grew slowly, and 
by long processes. And well they could, for thus 
New England grew. 

The General Assembly's Committee in 1883 had a 
better conception of the demands upon the denomina- 
tional college when it protested against establishing 
institutions without proper equipment and an ade- 
quate endowment. "Dribblets and half centuries for 
endowments! No! We are done with emigrant 
wagons and stage coaches. The country west of the 
Mississippi River has gained in ten years what it took 
New England two and a half centuries to gain." ^ 
In other words these new western colleges must be- 
gin with the standards that the New England schools 
had attained after two and a half centuries, and that 
meant good libraries and modern scientific apparatus, 
and large endowments. 

The saying that a small college consists of a log 
with Mark Hopkins at one end and a student at the 
other end was true enough of Williams College which 
had Mark Hopkins. But in Minnesota the new Pres- 
byterian school must compete with a fine state uni- 
versity; it would find a strong rival in Carleton Col- 
lege which, in 1880, had an attendance of 260 stu- 
dents, many of whom were Presbyterians loyal to 

^Minutes of the General Assembly, 1883, p. 583. 



8o MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Carleton ; this same institution by 1887 added $200,000 
to its productive endowment,^ and had a fine college 
plant. The college must also compete with Ham- 
line University which had been re-opened as a col- 
legiate institution a few days before the synod of 1880 
convened; and it must vie with other like institutions 
in the state. 

It would have been well for Macalester and Albert 
Lea if the synod, in 1880, had understood the require- 
ments for its colleges as well as Dr. Herrick Johnson 
who, in 1890, in addressing the Presbyterian Alliance 
in St. Paul, said:^ "Macalester needs at least 
$200,000. We cannot expect our boys and girls to go 
to a college simply because it is labeled 'Presby- 
terian.' They will go where there are the brains and 
the apparatus. This means money." 

But the synod, impelled by considerations already 
mentioned, adopted two colleges, in spite of the fact 
that each of the other denominations in the state 
which supported church institutions, found it ex- 
tremely burdensome to m^aintain one each. That the 
synod's action in this respect was not 'Vise and ex- 
pedient" is open to question to those who have wit- 
nessed the struggles of both the schools which it has 
under its fostering care. Either the synod should 
have established Albert Lea on a sound financial ba- 
sis, provided proper equipment and the best faculty 
that a high grade female college needed, and then at 

iLeonard, History of Carleton College, p. 227. 
^Macalester College Echo, May, 1890. 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 8i 

a later lime adopted Macalester College and given it 
adequate endowment and the necessary equipment, or 
vice versa. To-day there is room for both Macalester 
and Albert Lea; they are nowr doing efficient v^ork, 
and as Albert Lea is the only Protestant Women's 
College in the state it has a splendid field and a prom- 
ising future. But the synod's action in 1880 entailed 
trials and hardships for both institutions. Probably 
no other college in the entire country has suffered 
so much privation as Macalester through the blun- 
der of its friends at its adoption in 1880. 

It seems almost incredible that the synod, which 
fathered the two institutions, should have thought it 
"practicable" to ask the churches to raise only $45,000 
with which to endow both infant colleges. Of the 
$45,000, Macalester was allowed $30,000 or two-thirds 
of the whole. Is this not proof sufficient that the 
synod was not prepared to care for two such enter- 
prises ? 

And yet, that was all that could be done in a finan- 
cial way. To raise even that amount required stren- 
uous exertions. The synod's educational committee 
which was empowered to chose a Financial Agent to 
solicit the endowments elected Rev. Daniel Rice, D. D. 
This was a happy choice. Dr. Rice was a man of 
considerable experience in raising money for educa- 
tional purposes, and he devoted himself with great 
enthusiasm to this difficult task. 

The trustees of Macalester college, after the 
transfer of their institution to the synod, renewed 



82 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

their efforts to make Macalester a strong institution. 
In 1 88 1 a syndicate formed by some of the trustees 
bought a quarter section of land, known as the Hol- 
yoke Farm, bounded on the north by Summit Avenue 
and on the east by SneUing Avenue. They paid $150 
per acre for this land and offered to the other trus- 
tees of Macalester College the option of taking 40 
acres of this tract, free of charge, to be used for col- 
lege buildings and campus. The gentlemen who so 
generously offered the 40 acres as a gift to Macal- 
ester were: Rev. J. C. Whitney, R. P. Lewis, Alex- 
ander Ramsey, Henry L. Moss, Thomas Cochran, H. 
Knox Taylor and Judge Vanderburg. 

The board of trustees as a whole then chose the 
east quarter of the 160 acres extending half a mile 
along Snelling Avenue. This magnificent site, then 
about halfway between St. Paul and Minneapolis, time 
has proved an excellent selection. 

The location of the Winslow House, which was 
surrounded by mills and factories, had become wholly 
unsuited for college purposes. The trustees conse- 
quently arranged to sell this property and with its 
proceeds they purposed to erect a new building on the 
recently acquired site. The old Macalester College 
building or Winslow House was sold to the Minne- 
apolis Exposition Company, and the sale was ar- 
ranged on the following terms: Price, $40,000, of 
which $30,000 was payable on time, bearing six per 
cent, interest per annum; well secured by mortgage 
and insurance policy. The balance of the price, 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 83 

$10,000, consisted in real estate and city property 
earning about $40 per month.^ 

The donation of the new site and the location of 
the college thereon became, unfortunately, the occa- 
sion for some criticism. Not that the location was 
undesirable, nor that any conditions whatever were 
attached to the acceptance of the gift, but inasmuch 
as a few of the donors were men engaged in real 
estate business, it was at once rumored that the trans- 
fer of the college to the new location was purely a 
speculation by which they hoped to secure large prof- 
its on the remaining 120 acres. Most of the trustees 
of the syndicate, and there is no reason to doubt their 
word, vigorously denied this and insisted that the gift 
was made without any selfish design whatever. The 
college sooner or later would have been obliged to 
find another location than that at St. Anthony Falls, 
and therefore the donation of the new site, it was 
claimed, was opportune and generous. But indis- 
creet remarks by one of the trustees, at least, who 
may not have weighed his utterances carefully and 
the possible import of which he at that time prob- 
ably did not realize, were seized upon and made the 
occasion for animadversions reflecting on others con- 
cerned in the transaction. 

After the sale of the Winslow House the trustees 
opened a school in St. Paul as a branch of the Bald- 
win School, having purchased the furniture and fixt- 

^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1881, p. 345. 



84 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

tires of Professor Fogg's School. This institution was 
opened in September, 1881, with 32 students. 

One year after his appointment as Financial Agent 
of the synod's colleges, Dr. Rice^ reported to the 
synod that during the twelve months of his canvass 
he had succeeded in raising for the endowment of 
Albert Lea and Macalester $14,794. Of this amount 
Macalester's share was $9,454. He had presented 
the cause of Christian education to the larger churches 
of the Twin Cities and the state. No church was 
visited without some response. The pastors, with 
only two exceptions, very generously subscribed and 
aided the secretary in every possible way. Their gifts 
ranged from $5.00 on the part of the struggling home 
missionary to $350 by the pastor of the Central Pres- 
byterian church of St. Paul. Many others gave $50, 
$75 and $100 each. During this year many churches 
in St. Paul and Minneapolis incurred heavy liabili- 
ties in erecting new churches or by enlarging their 
houses of worship, others were paying off church 
debts, and a large majority of the congregations vis- 
ited were still missionary churches and unable to do 
more than support their own work. The harvests of 
the preceding years, moreover, had been poor and 
therefore the people in the rural regions were not 
able to give liberally. Under these conditions the 
secretary felt the subscriptions could not have been 
much larger. 

^Minutes of Synod of Minnesota, 1881, p. 347. 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 85 

But the synod was deeply impressed with the need 
of the cause and again recommended the two embryo 
colleges to the churches, urging them to contribute 
liberally in order to secure the $45,000 for endow- 
ment. 

Again the financial secretary spent a year of hard 
work in soliciting funds for the synod's colleges. But 
his second campaign was less successful than his first. 
The whole amount subscribed by October 13th, 1882, 
was $26,335.45, and the amount paid in only $3,771.44. 
During that year's canvass one pastor had subscribed 
$1,000, while twenty-five home missionaries sub- 
scribed $695, varying from $5 to $100 each. But in 
spite of these splendid gifts which meant great per- 
sonal sacrifices, the outlook was not promising. 

At a meeting of the synod's committee on Macal- 
ester College, Dec. 22, 1881, Dr. Rice submitted the fol- 
lowing questions to the committee:^ i. ''Shall the 
work be suspended at this time and no further effort 
be made to collect the balance of the $45,000, the 
sums already given being returned to the givers and 
the subscriptions already made being declared void ? " 
2. * 'Shall the work be committed to better hands than 
mine (Dr. Rice's) with the expectation of. better suc- 
cess ? " 3. "Shall the work be temporarily suspended 
until the churches of St. Paul and Minneapolis are in 
a better condition to respond with substantial sub- 
scriptions to the college ? " 

^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1882, p. 388. 



86 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

These three questions were unanimously negatived 
by the committee. The fourth question was agreed 
to after a prolonged discussion. It was as follows ; 
"Shall the work be prosecuted without intermission 
with such patience and earnestness, notwithstanding 
any present hinderance which may seem to tempora- 
rily block the way ? " 

That the synod was not discouraged by the slow 
progress of the endowment and that it shared the feel- 
ings of its committee on Macalester College is ap- 
parent from the following resolution which it adopted 
after it had heard reports by Dr. Rice and Mr. 
Thomas Cochran, Jr. : ''Resolved, That the synod 
again records its deep conviction of the importance of 
this educational work. It looks with earnest sym- 
pathy upon what our fellow denominations are doing 
in this direction, and acknowledges the impulse of 
these efforts in its renewed determination to accept 
its full share of the responsibility placed upon the 
Church of Christ in the New Northwest of providing 
Christian educational facilities for the youths of this 
section. In pursuance of this determination it will 
establish schools and colleges for the youths of its 
own congregation and for those others who may be 
brought within their influence."^ 

The synod's determination to persevere in its edu- 
cational enterprise was very largely due to an action 
taken by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
church of the U. S. A., at its meeting in 1881, when 

^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1882, p. 388. 



OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW COLLEGE. 87 

it endorsed the report of a special committee on edu- 
cation concerning the need of a College Aid Board :^ 
"Nor can we ignore this branch of church work. This 
was to concede that so far as we are concerned the 
education of the greater portion of our country shall 
be left to Congregational or other Christian hands 
than ours, or to unchristian hands. We have, then, 
no election in the case. Necessity is laid upon us. We 
must enter upon this work resolutely, systematically, 
and promptly." In 1882 the General Assembly unan- 
imously passed the following resolutions '? "In view 
of the patent fact by the secularizing of Academies 
and Colleges, the sources of supply for our Theo- 
logical Seminaries have been either vitiated or cut off, 
the Assembly enjoins upon the Presbyterian church 
and ministry the urgent duty of endowing and build- 
ing up Presbyterian colleges and academies already 
existing, and of wisely planting, endowing and fos- 
tering others as they become needed, in order to avert 
and make provision against the impending dearth of 
candidates for the ministry ,2 and that the Presbyterian 
church may overtake its sister churches in the work 
of Christian education and regain the place of su- 
premacy to which it is entitled by its grand system of 
doctrine and equally grand history." 

^Minutes of General Assembly, 1881, p. 584. 

^Minutes of General Assembl5^ 1882, p. 91. 

3FVom 1876-188 1 the Presbyterian Chnrch received 68 
ministers from other denominations, and only 141 gradu- 
ated from its own theological seminaries. In 1884 it re- 
ceived 64 "borrowed ministers" into its fellowship, and still 
there was a dearth of ministers. Minutes of General Assem- 
bly, 1884, p. 85. 



88 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

With renewed devotion, and conscious of the sym- 
pathy and encouragement of the synod, Dr. Rice un- 
dertook a third time the canvas for the necessary 
$45,000. When the subscriptions of the year's solicit- 
ing had been added up, the result was at last almost 
equal to the amount asked. The total sum raised, 
allowing for shrinkages, amounted to $44,621,91, and 
the balance was promised by the pastor of Westmin- 
ster church in MinneapoHs.i Of the total subscrip- 
tions about four-fifths had come from Minneapolis 
and St. Paul. Minneapolis had contributed $20,- 
409.39, St. Paul, $16,400. 

Thie three years of strenuous toil for the colleges 
on the part of good old Dr. Rice furnished a very 
instructive commentary on the interest of Presby- 
terians in a synodical college. A few years ago 
Dr. D. K. Pearsons said to Dr. Wallace : '''You 
Presbyterians are not worth one cent, not one 
cent, when it comes to taking care of your 
educational work." That arraignment was well de- 
served at one time, and that not a very remote pe- 
riod, in the history of Presbyterianism in the United 
States. The church gave liberally to other religious 
causes, but it neglected the work of Christian edu- 
cation. In 1880,^ e. g., the Presbyterian church gave 
to home missions, $345,809.56; to foreign missions, 
$585,842.82; to ministerial education, $42,493.31; to 

1 Synod of Minnesota, 1884, p. 487. 

2 Minutes of the General Assembly, 1880. See reports of 
the above named reports. 



THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. 89 

church erection, $120,501.22; to mimsterial rehef, 
$103,271.60; to freedmen, $52,921.93, but it did noth- 
ing for college work. It had no organization for 
such a department. Meanwhile, the Congregation- 
alists, who had a college aid society since 1844, had re- 
ported in 1882 that 26 colleges had received funds 
from this society amounting to $1,352,000.^ Hun- 
dreds of thousand of dollars of this money was given 
by Presbyterians who aided the Congregationalists be- 
cause they were interested in college work, while their 
own church did not call for help from them in edu- 
cational efforts. In 1881 the Congregationalists or- 
ganized another board, called a New West Educa- 
tional Commission to build academies and colleges 
in Utah and Idaho. This is another proof of the 
fact that the Congregationalists were more alert re- 
specting the educational opportunities of the day than 
were the Presbyterians. 

It was a slow process by which the Presbyterian 
church became educated to a proper realization of the 
importance of the work which they had so long neg- 
lected. After the Board of Aid for Colleges and 
Academies was organized and an appeal was made to 
the church for endowment funds and for current ex- 
penses, the response was very faint. The gifts for 
the first year, 1883-4, were only $14,912.42; for the 
second year, 1884-5, they showed a slight increase, 
$15,210.49. 

Albert Lea had secured its allowance of $15,000 



1 See* Annual Report of the College Aid Society for 1882. 



90 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

from the synod's fund in 1883 and the citizens of Al- 
bert Lea raised the $15,000 which they had pledged 
in order to secure the college. Plans were under way 
for the erection of a large main building which was 
to be ready for use in September, 1884, but owing to 
the cost of the building, which was $3,000 more than 
had been anticipated, and a shrinkage in its available 
funds, Albert Lea College was obliged to postpone 
its opening to September, 1885. Thus the friends of 
Albert Lea experienced their first disappointment. It 
was the beginning of a succession of deficits and in- 
creased indebtedness for which Macalester College also 
soon became notorious. 

At the synod's meeting on October 14, 1882, a 
nominating committee was appointed to suggest a 
president for Macalester College. It consisted of the 
following members : Rev. Daniel Rice, D. D. ; D. L. 
Kiehle and Elder S. J. R. McMillon; Rev. S. M. 
Campbell, D. D. ; Elder H. M. Knox, and Rev. Rus- 
sell B. Abbott. For the next eighteen months this 
committee did very little owing to the uncertainty of 
the outcome of Dr. Rice's efforts in raising the 
$30,000 to endow the president's chair. At the meet- 
ing of the synod in 1884, the committee was able to 
report that it had found a man whom it considered 
well qualified to direct the affairs of an institution in 
a formative period.^ This gentleman was the Rev. 
Thomas A. McCurdy, D. D., of Wooster, Ohio. 

^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1882, p. 389. 
^Minutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1884, p. 487. 



CHAPTER V. 
THE FORMATIVE PERIOD, 1884-1886. 

In the preceding pages we have traced the evolu- 
tion of Macalester from a Grammar School to a char- 
tered college under the auspices of the Presbyterian 
Synod of Minnesota. Twenty-seven years had passed 
since Dr. iNeill had announced his aim to establish a 
school for higher learning after the New England 
type — and four years more must come and go before 
he would teach in his college as the Professor of Po- 
litical Economy and English Literature. 

The Board of Trustees at this time consisted of 
men who had an honorable part in the development of 
the Twin Cities and of the Northwest. They stood 
high in the counsels of church and state, and were 
deeply interested in Christian education. The follow- 
ing biographical sketches by Dr. Wallace will acquaint 
the reader with the builders of Macalester College. 

Hon. Henry J. Horn. 

Mr. Horn was a native of Philadelphia, Pa., where 
he received a liberal education both in the classics and 
in the law. He studied law under Hon. Henry D. 
Gilpin, attorney-general of the United States under 
President Van Buren. After practicing six years in 



92 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Philadelphia he removed to St. Paul in 1855. Here 
he continued the practice of law uninterruptedly till 
his death, March 20, 1902. At one time and another 
he held office in the city and was generally recognized 
as a man of much legal learning, of ability and the 
soundest integrity. He was made an elder in the 
House of Hope in 1866 and served the church faith- 
fully in this office for thirty-six years. 

He was one of the charter trustees of Macalester 
college and he was continued in this office till when 
because of the infirmities of age he was made, with 
Alexander Ramsey, an honorary member of the Board. 
For many years he was the legal adviser of the Board. 
He died March 20, 1902. 

Mr. Robert P. Lewis. 

Mr. Lewis was a native of western Pennsylvania, 
was graduated from Washington College, Pa., in 
1856. After reading law in the same city he came 
to St. Paul (1859) ^^^ engaged in business. He was 
made an elder of Central Presbyterian church in 1859 
and has faithfully and efficiently dischai-ged the duties 
of that office up to the present time. Before the panic 
of '93 unfavorably affected his affairs he was known 
as one of the most liberal contributors to the church 
and its boards in the city. By nomination of Dr. Neill 
he was elected a trustee of the college in 1885. For 
some years he served also as the vice-president. He 
rarely missed a meeting of the board and brought to 
its deliberations a most conscientious interest in the 




Hon. Alexander Ramsey. 



THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. 93 

welfare of the college. Though, owing to opposition 
to the policy of co-education, adopted in 1893, he 
withdrew from the board, yet he and Mrs. Lewis, who 
was dear to all who knew her, have continued to cher- 
ish a warm affection for the institution. 

Captain J. C. Whitney. 

Mr. Whitney, a native of Vermont, graduate of 
Oberlin (1845), of Union Seminary (1848), came to 
Minnesota in 1849. He accepted the pastorate of the 
First church, Minneapolis, in 1854 where he remained 
for three years. In 1862 he enlisted in the army and was 
made captain of the Sixth Minnesota volunteers. After 
the war he engaged in business in Minneapolis. He be- 
came a member of the Macalester Board in 1885 and 
served faithfully till in 1896. From 1887 till 1893 he was 
was president of the Board. He was deeply interested 
in the college and in a will made some time before he 
died he made the college an heir equally with the 
children living, in memory of a child that had died. 
Unfortunately the panic of 1893-7 rnade it impossible 
to carry out his wishes in this particular. He died 
May I, 1896. 

Hon. Alexander Ramsey. 

Governor Ramsey (as he was usually called here) 
was a native of Harrisburgh, Pa., where, too, he was 
educated and read law. His long life was a continu- 
ous public service in one position or another. He was 
a member of Congress (1843-7), governor of the ter- 



94 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

ritory of Minnesota (1849-53), governor of the State 
of Minnesota (1859-63), was the first governor to 
respond to Lincoln's call for troops. He was U. S. 
Senator 1863-78 and Secretary of War (1879-81). 
In all these positions he was recognized as a man of 
character, ability and integrity. 

He was made a trustee of the college in 1885 and 
continued in this relation till 1894 when he was made 
an honorary member of the Board. In the campaign in 
1891 to liquidate the debt he gave liberally and main- 
tained his interest in the college till his death in 1903. 

Rev. J. B. Donaldson, D. D. 

Dr. Donaldson, of fine western Pennsylvania extrac- 
tion, was a graduate of Wabash College and a student 
of Allegheny and Union Theological Seminaries. 
After some experience as a missionary on the Pacific 
coast he was for several years the successful pastor 
of the Presbyterian church at Hastings, Minn., whence 
he moved to Minneapolis in 1887 and occupied the 
editorship of the North Western Presbyterian. He 
was elected a member of the Board of Trustees in 1892 
and president in 1893. 

In both positions he served the college faithfully, 
not only by his personal efforts, but also through the 
columns of his excellent weekly. He spoke ably for 
the college before synod and was one of the brave 
souls who helped to keep its lamp burning during the 
midnight of the panic of 1893-97. ^^ held the posi- 
tion of president of the Board till 1897 when he ac- 



THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. 95 

cepted a call to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian 
church of Davenport, la. 

Major B. F. Wright. 

Major B. F. Wright was a member of the Board of 
Trustees from 1885 to 1895, and was secretary of the 
Board for eleven years. He was a native of New 
York state and a graduate of Union College. He 
served his country during the civil war and rose to the 
rank of major. Coming to St. Paul after the war he 
rendered the city excellent service as principal of the 
Worthington school and of the high school for fifteen 
years as superintendent of schools for eight years. 
He was a member and for some years an elder of 
Dayton Ave. Presbyterian church. He took an intel- 
ligent and cordial interest in the college and was faith- 
fully serving as member of the Board at the time of 
his death in February, 1895. 

Charles T. Thompson. 

Mr. Thompson, a graduate of Dennison University, 
Ohio (1873), graduate student at Edinburg Uni- 
versity, Scotland (1874), graduate of the Cincinnati 
Law School (1876), came to Minneapolis in 1878 and 
has for years stood high at the bar of that city. 
Since 1880 he has been an honored elder of West- 
minister church and has been a delegate to six Gen- 
eral Assemblies. He was a member of the Revision 
Committee of 190 1. He is one of the most active and 
faithful laymen in the northwest. He was made a 



96 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

trustee of the college in the year 1886 and partici- 
pated actively in the proceedings of the Board, Hav- 
ing deep and intelligent convictions on the subject of 
Christian education he v^^avered not in his loyal sup- 
port of the college even in its darkest days. As an 
attorney, too, he at various times rendered the college 
valuable services. At the annual meeting, June 5, 
1900, he retired from the Board supporting Mr. 
Thomas Cochran in the view that the Board needed 
new blood. 

Chas. E. Vanderburg. 

Judge Vanderburg, as he was usually called, was 
born in 1892 in Clifton Park, Saratoga Co., N. Y. 
He was of Hollander descent, received his preparatory 
training at Courtland Academy and was graduated, 
from Yale in 1852. He was admitted to the bar in 
1855 and came to Minneapolis in 1856. He was 
elected judge of the fourth district court at the age of 
twenty-nine and held the position with honor to him- 
self for twenty years. From 1881 to 1894 he was on 
the supreme bench of the state. 

For many years he was an elder and superintend- 
ent of the Sunday-school in the First Presbyterian 
church. Perhaps no layman was so active in promot- 
ing the home mission work of his own city as he. 

He was one of the first trustees of Macalester 
and while a member served as president of its Board. 
He retired from the Board in 1886 but continued his 
interest in the college and gave liberally toward the 




Judge C. E. Vanderburg. 



THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. 97 

liquidation of the debt in the canvass of 1891. He 
died in March, 1898. 

Mr. H. Knox Taylor. 

Mr. Taylor came from western New York state 
by way of Illinois to the city of St. Paul in 1861. 
His integrity and exemplary life early won for him 
the confidence of his fellow townsmen. In 1862 he 
was elected an elder in the House of Hope and has 
faithfully discharged the duties of that position up 
to the present time. His name appears among the 
first printed list of trustees of the college and this 
position he faithfully filled till 1900 when he with 
some others who had rendered long years of service 
to the college resigned. For some j^ears he was the 
treasurer of the college and not infrequently advanced 
such sums as he was able that the college might 
make a more decent payment on the long over-due 
salaries of the professors. In the present prosperity 
of the college none rejoices more than he. 

Mr. Thomas Cochran. 

Mr. Thomas Cochran, graduate of the college 
and law departments of the University of New York, 
came to St. Paul for his health in 1866. 

He had grown up in a good Presbyterian home 
and to an unusual degree had taken on the culture 
of the good society in which he moved. He was soon 
recognized as a man of ability, force and public spirit. 
He early identified himself with the House of Hope 



98 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

church and both as Bible-class teacher and an elder 
did much to promote its up-building. 

Mr. Cochran was readily judged a very accept- 
able man for membership in the Board of the college. 
He was active in securing its location in St. Paul. 
He attended its meetings regularly and participated ac- 
tively in its work. Being a man of fine address, ready 
and able in presenting a cause, he was often called upon 
to assist the president or the secretary in the canvass 
for money. For this work no trustee was so will- 
ing or efficient. It is probably true that no layman 
of St. Paul surrendered so much of his time to the 
promotion of educational, religious and secular enter- 
prises as he. 

Owing to the loss of prestige both to the college 
and trustees on account of its long and terrible finan- 
cial struggle Mr. Cochran clearly discerned the need 
of new men on the Board, whose fortunes and influ- 
ence had not been seriously affected by the panic 
and at the annual meeting held in the college in 1900 
he urged the resignation of the old members and the 
introduction of men of fresh power and influence. This 
action was taken both by himself, Mr. Chas. T. 
Thompson and H. Knox Taylor. On account of Mr. 
Cochran's touching recital of Hon. H. L. Moss's long 
and fruitful service to the college the latter was dis- 
suaded from like action. He continued to take a warm 
interest in the college till his death, December, 1906, 




Mr. Henry L. Moss. 



THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. 99 

Henry L. Moss. 

Mr. Moss, a native of Augusta, N. Y., was gradu- 
ated from Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y., in 1840. 
After he had studied law he came to Stillwater in 
1848 and removed to St. Paul in 1850. He aided in 
the organization of the territory and was appointed 
U. S. District Attorney In 1849. This position he held 
until 1853 and again from '(^2. to '67. Thereafter he 
engaged in law, real estate and insurance. 

His name appears in the first printed list of trus- 
tees of Macalester College. He v/as deeply interested 
in higher education, and during the eighteen or more 
years of membership on the Board he rarely missed 
a meeting. He took a lively and intelligent interest 
in all its deliberations, and it is our judgment that no 
trustee showed more concern and forethought for the 
welfare of the college than he. It was he who dis- 
covered, when executions on the college property were 
seriously threatened, that there was no law in this 
state that exempted the library, apparatus and musical 
instruments of a college from execution. He there- 
upon had a law drawn to this effect and had it intro- 
duced into the legislature. Followed closely through 
the two houses by Mr. Moss and the president, it was 
passed in the spring of 1897. 

Soon after the college was located on its present 
site Mr. Moss erected a small temporary, fire-proof 
library at a cost of over $1,000. He also gave to the 
college several sets of valuable books, and when he 



100 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

died he left his property to the college for the benefit 
of the library. 

In all his devotion to the college he was warmly 
supported by Mrs. Moss. After her graduation from 
a New England seminary she heard the call for 
teachers from the far-away Northwest territory, came 
to Stillwater and engaged in teaching. It was there 
that she met and married Mr. Moss. At her death 
she, like her husband, left her property to the college. 
Mr. Moss died suddenly while taking a vacation at 
Lake Minnetonka, July 2, 1902, aged eight-three 
years. Mrs. Moss survived her husband eight years 
and died at the advanced age of eighty-seven." 

If the process, by which Macalester came into be- 
ing was very slow, that is true of its development 
also. 

After the trustees, in Feb. 1883, had disposed of 
the Winslow House property they took $30,000 of 
the $40,000 accruing from, the sale to erect a building 
on the new site. By June, 1884, the East wing, or 
dormitory, of the present Main building was completed, 
excepting the furnishings. This building was eighty 
feet long, forty feet wide, and seventy feet high, con- 
structed of brick on a high stone foundation. The base- 
ment was intended for a refrectory ; the first floor, for 
chapel and classroom purposes; and the second and 
third stories were set aside for students' rooms. 

The trustees believed then that the time had come 
to elect a president. Synod, at its meeting in 1883, 
had recommended Rev. Thomas A. McCurdy, D. D., 




A'Irs. Henry L. Moss. 



THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. loi 

for this positipn and immediately the Board entered 
into negotiations with him. 

During the summer of 1884, arrangements were 
made with Dr, McCurdy to visit the Northwest and 
to consider a tentative offer of the presidency of Mac- 
alester College. Dr. McCurdy had received his acad- 
emic education at Washington and Jefferson, gradu- 
ating in 1862, and had taken his seminary course at 
Western Theological, finishing in 1865. After a hap- 
py pastorate at Steubenville, Ohio, he was elected 
pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Wooster, 
in the same state. Here he soon became identified 
with Wooster University as a trustee and as a mem- 
ber of its Executive Committee. On several occa- 
sions he assisted the President of Wooster in securing 
funds, and sometimes he taught the President's classes 
in that officer's absence. His. record as a pastor and 
his experience in denominational education work led 
the trustees of Macalester to believe that in him they 
had found the man who could make a brilliant suc- 
cess of their lagging college enterprise. 

About the middle of August, 1884, Dr. McCurdy 
arrived in Minneapolis. After several interviews, a 
committee of the trustees, on the 26th of that month, 
unanimously decided to recommend him to the Board 
for the presidency. That having been done and the 
Board having accepted the recommendation, they ap- 
pointed a committee consisting of Rev. John C. Whit- 
ney, Ex-Governor Alexander Ramsey and Thomas 
Cochran to convey to him the Board's tender and to 



102 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

urge his acceptance of the same. This was done at a 
conference which was held on the next day at the 
Nicollet House in Minneapolis. 

After listening to the communication of the com- 
mittee Dr. McCurdy said that he did not feel attracted 
to the proffered position. He believed that the col- 
lege building was inadequate. The location seemed 
to him to lack natural beauty and to be out of the way. 
The building stood alone on the prairie surrounded by 
a cornfield. It was difficult to reach it quickly from 
either St. Paul or Minneapolis. The interior of the 
building had not been furnished. The endowment was 
small; the college had no students, and as far as he 
could see the public showed little interest in the insti- 
tution. Therefore, his first impulse was to decline the 
proposed election. But the earnest representations of 
the trustees, their conviction of the need of the col- 
lege to prepare young men for the Christian ministry 
and for the duties of Christian citizenship persuaded 
him to a further consideration of the call. 

After mature reflection he decided to accept the 
same on conditions which he stipulated in a letter under 
the date of September 13th, 1884. The letter was ad- 
dressed to Messrs. Whitney, Ramsey and Cochran, the 
committee that had urged him to accept the presidency. 
From this letter the following excerpts are taken. 

"Dear Brethren : In the interview you had with 
me in Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 27th, 1884, and 
in the tender you made to me of the Presidency of 
Macalester College there were, as I understood, in- 




Rev. Thomas A. McCurdy, D. D. 
President, 1884- 1900. 



THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. 103 

volved in both interview and tender, the following 
terms and particulars, namely : 

"I. The Board of Trustees insures an additional 
and productive endowment of 'one hundred thousand 
dollars' secured to the college within a period of time 
not less than sixty days, nor greater than six months at 
the remotest, from the date of my acceptance of the 
Presidency of the college. 

*TI. I am to co-operate with the Board of Trustees 
for a period of time not exceeding six months in 
helping to secure the 'one hundred thousand dollars' 
aforesaid. 

"III. The Board will employ a suitable person to 
act as Fiscal Secretary, and to aid in raising the above 
mentioned endowment, should I desire it. 

"IV. After the expiration of the first six months, 
I am to devote myself wholly to the work involved in 
securing a Faculty, in forming the curriculum, in ar- 
ranging for scientific apparatus, securing students, and 
doing other needful work along the specified lines 
preparatory to the opening of the college in September, 
1885. 

"V. The College is to be opened with not less 
than four permanent professors; that is, a permanent 
professor in each of the following departments, name- 
ly: Pyschology, Languages, Natural Sciences, Mathe- 
matics and Astronomy. 

"VI. I am ready to accept the trust whenever the 
Board shall ratify your tender in its terms and particu- 
lars, and communicate officially the same to me by let- 



104 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

ter or telegram. I will then take the necessary steps 
for a speedy removal of myself and family to my 
new field of labor. Believing that the Board will add 
all necessary comfort and encouragement to me in my 
work, I will go in the faith that the Master who has 
so signally opened to me this unsought field of labor 
and shut me up to its acceptance will not fail to crown 
our efforts with success." 

After considering the terms of this letter the trus- 
tees agreed that they would pledge themselves to exe- 
cute all the conditions enumerated excepting that part 
of the first one which required them to raise one hun- 
dred thousand dollars additional endowment within 
sixty days or at the remotest within six months after 
Dr. McCurdy's acceptance of the presidency. In place 
of the definite time specified they substituted the in- 
definite phrase "a. reasonable time." To this import- 
ant change in his original stipulations Dr. McCurdy 
consented, whereupon the Board issued a formal call 
to him. He accepted it and arrived at Minneapolis 
on Friday, in the second week of the following No- 
vember. 

The trustees had fixed upon September, 1885, for 
the opening of the college. Every preparation must 
therefore be made to carry out this resolution, and first 
of all the one hundred thousand dollars further en- 
dowment should be raised. Some of the trustees had 
strong hope of securing generous aid from the East. 
Previous to Dr. McCurdy's election the trustees had 
petitioned the Board of Aid for Colleges and Acad- 



THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. 105 

emies for permission to solicit aid in the East. The 
request was granted, Philadelphia was named as the 
field and certificates of appointment for a four months' 
canvass were sent.^ But Dr. McCurdy, having come 
from Ohio, believed that he thoroughly understood the 
East and was positive that financial help need not be ex- 
pected from that section. The Board, therefore, made 
no effort to get support from eastern states. They 
accepted the view of their new president, in which the 
president of the Board of Trustees, Judge C. E. Van- 
derburgh, concurred, ''that the time had not come for 
an appeal for aid at any point remote from the Twin 
Cities." 2 

Whether Dr. McCurdy was right in his position can- 
not now be affirmed or denied. Perhaps the reputed 
wealth of the Twin Cities would have made it exceed- 
ingly difficult or impossible to secure assistance in the 
East; and yet in raising college endowments it is 
certainly true, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." 
A little circumspection, moreover, would have brought 
out the fact that a Minnesota institution had demon- 
strated the possibility of interesting public spirited 
men of the older states in a new western college. When 
President Strong became the head of Carleton College 
he asked his friends about the advisability of soliciting 
funds in the East. To this inquiry President Merriam 
of Ripon College, a man of large experience in enlist- 



^Minutes of the Board of Trustees, Record "A," Page 172. 
2Dr. McCurdy's letter on the Formative Period of Mac- 
alester College. 



To6 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

ing the support of men of means, replied as follows : 
"You ask if in my experience, I would encourage any 
man to go east to beg endowment. No! No! No! 
Every bone, and muscle, and nerve, replies, no, no ! 
It may be necessary in some cases, but there is every- 
thing to discourage it, and good policy should avoid 
it. Unless your case is very strong, or you can use 
strong personal influence, or have some strong hold on 
some wealthy man, you will long toil in vain." ^ 

But the discouraging note of this letter made Presi- 
dent Strong all the more determined to find aid in the 
East, and there he went. And now mark the result! 
Within the period of fifteen years from 1871 to 
1886, Carleton College received not less than two hun- 
dred and forty thousand dollars from the very region 
that President Merriam had considered unproductive.- 
It was not a question whether the East desired to 
give, but whether the right man should go there and 
persuade the people to give, and Dr. Strong proved to 
be the right man. If President Strong had followed the 
experienced Merriam's advice, what would have been 
the subsequent history of Carleton? 

In order to open Macalester in September, 1885, 
the trustees decided to formulate a plan to secure the 
funds for current expenses. In doing this the larger 
enterprise of the additional endowment suffered, al- 
though it was not dropped. Special efforts were made 



^Leonard, The History of Carleton College, p. 175. 
2Leonard, The History of Carlton College, p. 197-227. 



THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. 107 

to interest the church, as may be seen from the follow- 
ing letter : 

"Minneapolis, Minnesota, January, 1885. 

Rev. and Dear Brother, 

Arrangements are in rapid progress for the opening 
of Macalester College in September, 1885. ^ The out- 
look for the speedy growth of the College is promis- 
ing beyond all previous anticipations; and our hope 
founded upon reasonable evidence is that, its patronage 
at the opening will greatly encourage all its friends 
and insure the speedy realization of its success in the 
great work it is called to undertake. 

We desire all to recognize our fixed purpose to 
make the College broad and thorough in its educational 
appointments, staunch and vigorous in its rehgious life, 
watchful and careful of all the interests of the young 
men entrusted to our care. 

The Curriculum in thoroughness will excel that 
of many colleges, and fully equal others which are 
recognized as being of a high order. The Professors 
will be men of reputed fitness in scholarship, in aptness 
to teach, and in their experience in the modern meth- 
ods of instruction and College work. The necessity 
for sending young men to Eastern Colleges for their 
education will be superceded henceforth in the advan- 
tages furnished by Macalester. 

We do not conceal, but emphasize the religious 
character the College will have. While in no sense 
will it be bigoted or sectarian, it will be, in a very 
distinct sense, evangelical and religious, under 
Presbyterian management. No religious convictions 
of polity or doctrine not recognized as Presbyterian 
will in any manner be disturbed ; but the cardinal 
truths of evangelical religion will be made strong and 
prominent in the religious life and work of the Col- 
lege. In the most unqualified sense, therefore, we will 
guarantee young men under our care, safely guarded 
against all materialistic and rationalistic tendencies and 



io8 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

forces, which in these times are seeking to undermine 
and destroy the very foundations of evangelical faith. 

By special provision of the Board of Trustees, all 
candidates for the Ministry, will have tuition provided 
for them, and with all others unable to meet this ex- 
pense, satisfactory arrangements will be made. It 
being our purpose to furnish young men with the op- 
portunity for their thorough education, we will make 
the aggregate cost the least possible. 

Will you not, dear brother, remember Macalester 
College in your prayers, and give us your undivided 
sympathy and hearty words of cheer in this great work 
for God and man that is upon us? Under God we 
look to you for help. Speak to young men publicly 
and privately, and let them know what Macalester 
proposes to do for them, and through them, for Christ 
and for the world. May we not count you among 
those who will give Heart and Voice to this great 
work? Please read this Circular Letter to your Ses- 
sion, then from your pulpit to your people, and add 
for Christ, for the Church in the Great North- West 
and West, and for the young men and for us, some 
words of help and encouragement ? 

The Prospectus containing the full Curiculum, the 
names of the Professors, rates of Tuition, cost of 
Boarding, and directions for reaching the College 
will be issued and sent to you in due time. Mean- 
while the President solicits inquiries and correspond- 
ence with Pastors, Church Sessions, Parents and 
Young Men, on any subject relating to Macalester 
College. 

By order of the Board of Trustees, 

C. E. Vanderburgh, President of the Board. 
W. M. Tenny, Secretary of the Board. 
Rev. T. a. McCurdy, D. D., President of Macalester 
College. 

1014 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minn." 



THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. 109 

Dr. McCurdy visited the churches of tlie synod 
to arouse interest in the college, to enlist the support 
of Women's Missionary Societies in furnishing the 
college building and to secure students. It was his 
purpose *'to proclaim the college, to make its wants 
known and to secure public confidence," above all he 
would demonstrate "that Macalester's long sleep 
had ended." ''Churches were put at my disposal more 
rapidly than I could occupy their pulpits; and as a 
result the money needed for the furnishing aforesaid 
was' in the bank before it was needed." Efforts were 
made also to secure further endowment, but in spite 
of his enthusiasm the results were fruitless. Some 
said, ''Macalester is not needed ;" others asserted, "The 
State University, Hamline, Carleton and Shattuck are 
enough for the Northwest ;" while still others looked 
upon it as a "real estate scheme that had already been 
played to the interest of a certain real estate dealer," 
"Macalester is an old song and a huge joke," "St. Paul 
has taken the college away from the midway district 
and I will not help St. Paul to build up a College she 
has stolen." From November, 1884, to March, 1885, 
the president solicited funds for current expenses and 
further endowment. In this work he encountered con- 
siderable opposition. This he ascribed to an "antag- 
onism" that was "deep seated and of long standing." 
There was "a strong personal element in the antagon- 
ism."i 



^These citations are all from Dr. McCurdy's letter on 
the Formative Period of Macalester College. 



no MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

From this disagreeable and unsuccessful task he 
turned to that of arranging a course of studies and the 
selection of a faculty. In this he was very fortunate. 
In order to attract strong men to the positions in the 
faculty the trustees had offered salaries considerably 
higher than ordinarily paid in institutions of like char- 
acter. 

Meanwhile the time for the opening of the college 
drew near. Not one dollar had been added to the en- 
dowment and the result of the canvass for current ex- 
penses left no doubt that if the school were opened 
under existing conditions, it must soon encounter fi- 
nancial troubles that would ere long involve it in ruin. 
The questions that faced Dr. McCurdy were: Shall 
the college be opened without a guarantee for its run- 
ning expenses or shall the enterprise be postponed in-» 
definitely? Is there a future for the institution? or 
should he resign to enable the trustees to elect some 
one especially gifted in raising money? 

Dr. McCurdy felt that a postponement of the open- 
ing of the school would discredit the Board and would 
destroy his own influence in the Synod. Of the Board 
Dr. McCurdy says: "Every member of it merited 
the unqualified sympathy, helpfulness, and confidence 
of all to whom disinterested service and devotion to 
worthy interests have meaning ; nevertheless, the Board 
was in error of judgment when it concluded that Mac- 
alester had a constituency which warranted the belief 
that 'one hundred thousand dollars of productive en- 
dowment' could be secured in 'sixty days' or in 'six 



THE FORMATIVE PERIOD. in 

months/ or even *in a reasonable time/ 'An enthusi- 
astic interest in Macalester College had no existence 
outside the Board of Trustees.' " ^ He had published 
broadcast that Macalester would open its doors in Sep- 
tember, 1885, and he believed that when the church 
would see the college in actual operation it would not 
withhold the support necessary for its maintenance. 
The institution had so long been regarded as stillborn 
that its natural guardians felt little affection for it, 
but he believed that if it would show signs of life and 
health the Presbyterian church would speedily bestow 
love and fostering care upon its offspring. 

He was determined therefore to open the institu- 
tion. To the question shall Macalester be or not be, 
he answered emphatically in the affirmative. "It was 
under these circumstances that I concluded to adopt 
a different policy at whatever cost to myself personally. 
I challenged failure to do its worst. Macalester 's flag 
should triumph. I might fail, but Macalester should 
not fail." ''This," Dr. McCurdy continues, "was the 
first and only real crisis in Macalester's History. 
* * * There was no poetry in the situation ; but tne 
hardest and stiffest prose. Should Macalester succeed, 
the college would gain a possession to be kept by those 
who should follow me, but should Macalester fail 
here, no subsequent struggle would ever regain her loss. 
Her crisis was not when she had something and had to 
struggle to keep it; but when she had nothing and 
had to struggle to get something worth the keeping ; not 



^Letter on the Formative Period by Dr. McCurdy. 



112 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

when she had a reputation for services rendered; but 
whether she should ever have any reputation at all for 
services well done; not when she had friends to help 
her, but when she had enemies to conquer that she 
might have friends to help her. This was her real and 
only crisis."^ 

Assisted by Mr. Joseph McKibbin, the fiscal secre- 
tary, new efforts were made to secure funds and to 
bring students to the college. 

^Dr. McCurdy's letter on the Formative Period. 



CHAPTER VI. 
THE OPENING OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

At last tlie day for the opening of the school had 
arrived. It was the sixteenth of September, a 
beautiful late summer day and a large number of 
Presbyterians from St. Paul and Minneapolis and 
neighboring cities had come to the college to attend 
the dedication of the new building and the formal 
opening. The chapel was crowded and the hall and 
adjoining recitation rooms had to be utilized to accom- 
modate the visitors. 

When the time for the beginning of the exercises 
had come the trustees and the faculty marched into 
the chapel. Dr. McCurdy, after arranging the mem- 
bers of the faculty in procession according to the order 
in which their names appeared on the prospectus, led 
them, and Dr. Neill, the founder of the college and the 
speaker of the day, was in the rear. Judge C. E. Van- 
derburg, President of the Board of Trustees, presided. 
Thomas Cochran in behalf of the committee of ar- 
rangements expressed regret that the chapel was too 
small to seat all the friends and assured them that when 
the college had grown a little richer it would enlarge 
the building and the chapel sufficiently to accommodate 
all Presbyterians and their sons who were interested 
in the college. Judge Vanderburg delivered a short 
informal address and conveyed the congratulations of 



114 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Dr. Bridgman of Hamllne to the sister college. There- 
upon Rev. J. B. Donaldson offered the invocat'On pray- 
er, after which the choir of the Westminster Presby- 
terian church of Minneapolis sang the anthem, "Re- 
joice in the Lord." Rev. Dr. Christie read the scrip- 
ture lesson, using selections from the 119th Psalm and 
short passages from the Book of Proverbs and the 
Prophecy of Isaiah, after which prayer was offered by 
Rev. M. D. Edwards, D. D. This was followed bv 
the Coronation hymn in which all united. Then came 
the principal address of the day, delivered by Rev. Ed- 
ward D. Neill, D. D., the founder of the college.^ 
Dr. Neill said : 

"The dedication of a wing of a college edifice and 
homes for professors, which have cost about $60,000 
for an American college of the type of Yale and 
Princeton, indicates a growth in the community. The 
first age of the modern commonwealth does not re- 
semble the golden age of the past. The pioneers of 
our western states have fought the savage and braved 
hardships to prepare homes for their families, or to 
gratify the hunger for riches, the "auri sacra fames" 
of Virgil. The care for posterity, the raising of a 
race of good men, the adding to the stock of knowU 
edge, are subsequent developments, and are indicative 
of advanced culture. Thirty-two years ago the 
speaker delivered the address at the opening of the 
first two-story brick edifice in Minnesota dedicated 

iPioneer Press, Sept. 17, 1885; St. Paul Dispatch, Sept. 
16, 1885. 



OPENING OF THE COLLEGE. 115 

to education and erected by private munificence, 
known as the Baldwin School, whose catalogue for 
1853 gives the names of seventy students; and the 
lad whose name is at the head of the list is the able 
engineer ofiicer and professor of mathematics at the 
United States Military Academy at West Point. The 
school was designed to be the germ of a college, and 
by the charter, in accordance with the will of the 
founder, is made a preparatory school for Macalester 
College. The trustees have requested me on this oc- 
casion to make a brief address, and it will not be out 
of place to express some thoughts upon the American 
college. By the American college is meant the col- 
lege of the general form of the Princeton or the New 
England college. It has developed under conditions 
unlike the beginnings of the colleges of England, Scot- 
land, France and Germany. The charter of Yale Col- 
lege, written nearly two hundred years ago, declares 
its object "to instruct youths in the arts and sciences, 
who, through the blessing of God, may be fitted for 
public employment both in the church and state." 
The first class in Harvard graduated in 1642, and 
consisted of only eight young men ; yet more than 
one-half of these, educated where the Indian still 
roamed, went to Old England and became eminent 
in church and state. One was appointed ambassador 
by Cromwell to Holland, and bore credentials written 
by Secretary John Milton, and after Charles the 
Second ascended the throne he was made baronet; 
a second studied medicine in Italy and practiced in 



ii6 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

London; a third attended medical lectures at the Uni- 
versity of Leyden and settled in England; and a 
fourth was one of the king's chaplains. Loyalty to 
truth has been one of the characteristics of the 
American college. Truth is the expression of the 
divine intelligence anywhere, and under any form. 
While the manifestation is varied, there is unity in the 
diversity, and bigots in science or theology can never 
effect the divorce of reason and revelation. The 
college delights in every discovery of the miscroscope 
or telescope ; it accepts any fact fairly proved. When 
the American Association of Science in its early days 
sought for a president, he was found in the devout 
Hitchcock, professor of geology, in the Amherst 
College, and when the United States wished a head 
for the Smithsonian Institution it selected Joseph 
Henry, a professor in Princeton. The trustees of 
Macalester College, believing in the harmony of 
nature and revelation, have engraved on their cor- 
porate seal two figures ; one, in loose, classic drap- 
ery, standing with telescope in hand, and compass 
at the feet, representing science investigating the 
laws of nature; the other, in sitting posture, clad in 
modest robes, holding the open Word of God, rep- 
resenting revelation. Both are in friendly converse, 
twin sisters of heaven as the motto suggests. "Nat- 
ura et revelatio coeli gemini." The object of the 
American college is not to promote an aesthetic or 
a medieval culture. It recognizes the life of a young 
man from sixteen to twenty-one years of age as' most 



OPENING OF THE COLLEGE. 117 

critical and susceptible. Its aim is to develop har- 
moniously the body, the intellect and the affections. 
Aristotle, generations before Christ was known as 
the Nazarene and the Son of Mary, advanced an 
argument for the immortality of the soul which has 
never been improved upon by the finite mind. He 
indicated the desire that there should be more great- 
souled men, in his chapter on megalopsychy. It is 
to be deplored that, owing to the hostility of a sect 
and the opposition of unbelievers, it is impossible in 
our State University to have a professorship for the 
exaltation of Christ, and on the evidences of Chris- 
tianity. The constitution of the state of Minnesota 
expressly forbids the inculcation of the tenets of 
Jesus or any other religionist in her school. The 
regents may, without strict attention to the constitu- 
tion, allow students who admire Jesus to erect a hall, 
in which songs of praise to him may be sung by those 
who call themselves Christians ; but, this being 
granted, the students who admire Voltaire, Thomas 
Paine and Robert IngersoU can also have a hall 
wherein they can discuss their tenets. Now, the 
American college is expressly established for soul 
advancement, and it teaches that the system of Christ 
alone promotes the highest soul culture. Strauss, 
although a skeptic, confessed "As little as humanity 
will be without religion, as little will it be without 
Christ." Renan has also said, "All history is incom- 
prehensible without Him. He founded the pure wor- 
ship which shall be that of all lofty .souls to the end 



ii8 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

of time." He who leaves college without any ac- 
quaintance with the proof that Christ lived on earth, 
died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended 
into heaven, is a half -educated man. These proofs 
are communicated to the students of the universities 
of Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Dublin. The 
late president of the American Association of Science, 
in an address delivered before that body, only last 
month, truly said that "science should be pursued 
with the special object of the soul's advancement." 
The college that has been described differs from those 
which inculcate the forms and tenets of any particu- 
lar branch of the church. There are colleges, how- 
ever, established for the purpose of making bigots. 
The students are not allowed to worship except un- 
der the form of a particular sect. There is an at- 
mosphere about them which, if it does not impel their 
students to contend earnestly for the faith delivered 
to the saints, leads them to proselyte for the Church 
of Rome or the Church of England, to intimate that 
all out of their pale must trust to the uncovenanted 
mercies of God. The American college is not built 
upon this narrow foundation. Princeton College 
and Princeton Theological Seminary jare different 
institutions. Princeton College, while it would not 
tolerate a slur on the Presbyterian church from any 
professor, does not teach its students the distinctive 
doctrines or polity of that branch of the church, but 
only the doctrines of Christ as clearly declared by the 
apostles Paul and Peter. But in Princeton Semi- 



OPENING OF THE COLLEGE. * 119 

nary the student is expected to have these doctrines 
set forth as interpreted in substance by Augustine, 
John Calvin, and the Westminster Confession of 
Faith. Macal ester College teaches the doctrine of 
the New Testament in a way that will not offend a 
student who may be trained to prefer the Baptist, 
Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal or Protestant Episco- 
pal branches of the Holy Catholic Church. 

The governing body of a college like Princeton 
is not appointed by the civil authorities, nor by any 
ecclestiastical synod. It is a self-perpetuating board 
of trustees elected under certain provisions of a char- 
ter, and they have the care of the funds and the re- 
sponsibility of making regulations for the welfare of 
the college, and the president of the faculty is the 
administrative officer of the board. The college 
professor is not what the Greeks called a pedagogue. 
He is not a dull man, with a book in his hands, 
mechanically hearing a recitation, watching the boys 
like a detective. He is very different. He is a live 
man in the class room, and shows that he is a profes- 
sor by a scholarly instinct, and is not attracted by the 
emoluments of office, and to gain the applause of 
fellows. His enthusiasm is imparted, the grand con- 
tagion spreads, and the college wins a name. Wil- 
liams College, hid among the mountains in the north- 
west corner of Massachusetts, was difficult of access, 
with poor buildings and meager endowments, when 
Hopkins became its president, but his lofty character 
and philosophic Christian spirit drew students from 



130 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

afar. Among the graduates of American colleges 
before me, there are some who can recall the impres- 
sion made upon them by the professor who did not 
blindly follow a text-book, but glowed all over with 
his theme as he sat in the class room, and caused the 
members, as they left and walked across the campus, 
to say: ''Did not our hearts burn within us while 
he talked with us?" The true professor, as Horace 
writes of the poet, is born, not made, and he attracts 
students as a magnet attracts the iron filings of a 
blacksmith shop. A college student, while he may 
be allowed to select certain studies, must, however, 
conform to the curriculum which has been adopted 
by the professors. He is supposed to have come to 
college to discipline his mind by study, and the rich 
man's son cannot expect to find there a club house, 
nor are watchmen and keepers provided for any in- 
corrigible member of a family; it can never be a 
lounging place, nor a reform school. The old New 
England colleges only educate young men; not that 
they do not approve of the education of young wo- 
men, but because they have thought the latter should 
have a higher education, which will better fit them to 
preside in the family, and to be the mothers of the 
republic. It was a professor in Amherst College 
who assisted in establishing the seminary of Mount 
Holyoke, and upheld its first principal, Mary Lyon, 
the bright and good — 

'''A perfect woman, nobly planned 
To warn, to comfort and command." 



OPENING OF THE COLLEGE. 121 

Smith Female College, also in the vicinity of Am- 
herst, has the active sympathy of its professors. The 
trustees of Macalester College cordially agreed to 
the arrangement by which a college for women 
should be established at Albert Lea, and they rejoice 
at its early opening and pray for its success; but it 
should be known that the plan of Amherst and Dart- 
mouth Colleges is the plan of Macalester. When- 
ever an institution of learning becomes anxious for 
a long catalogue of students, there is danger of its 
catering to the popular taste, and lowering the stand- 
ard of scholarship. David's heart smote him, after 
that he numbered the people, and he confessed that 
he had done "very foolishly." A true college will 
insist upon certain work being done in the prepara- 
tory schools. It will only have the well-defined 
classes, and avoid a fog line between the school and 
college. Some have thought that if a preparatory 
department is under the supervision of the trustees 
of a college, that the school should have a distinctive 
name, so that the scholar in that department should 
not give the impression that he was in the college 
proper. The catalogue of Macalester College will, 
perhaps, always show fewer students than the other 
colleges of Minnesota. The last published catalogue 
of the Minnesota State University gives the names 
of ninety-seven students in the four classes cor- 
responding to those of the old American college, but 
of these thirty-one are young women; that of Ham- 
line University for 1884-5 shows thirty students in 



122 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

the college classes, one-third of whom are young 
women. 

No American college has ever met its annual ex- 
penses by the fees of students. Harvard received 
gifts at an early date from HoUis, the rich Baptist 
and London merchant. The contributions of Yale, 
by the governor of the East India Company, and of 
Bishop Berkeley, were very serviceable at a critical 
period to Yale College. There has never been a pe- 
riod when an American college did not need money. 
To-day each of the older colleges, like Oliver Twist 
in the poorhouse, lifts up its plate and says, 'T want 
some more." Now Macalester College must follow 
in the footsteps of its illustrious predecessors. It 
needs a great deal of money to pay the salaries of 
professors, who cannot live on angels' food. It can 
never be satisfied, and say "It is enough." From 
year to year its cry must be heard saying, "give, 
give!" That cry has been heard; it will hereafter 
be heard. When the Baldwin school, the prepara- 
tory department of the college, was established, in 
1853, Henry M. Rice, who at that time was doing 
more than any other man to lay the foundations of 
the prosperity of St. Paul, and who was the repre- 
sentative of Minnesota in Congress, obtained from a 
gentleman in Washington, whose family attended 
the services of the Protestant Episcopal church, the 
valuable lot upon which the school edifice was built 
at the head of Rice Park, in this city. When, in 
1885, it was necessary to erect another building in 



OPENING OF THE COLLEGE. 123 

a different part of the city, for the exclusive use of 
the boys' department, another gentleman, John R. 
Irvine, whose family always attended the Protestant 
Episcopal church in St. Paul, gave a number of lots 
as a site for that building. When, as a condition of 
receiving the property left by the late Charles Mac- 
alester, of Philadelphia, it was required to have 
$25,000 in the treasury always to be used toward the 
payment of professors' salaries, it is pleasant to re- 
member how those in Minneapolis who did not call 
themselves Presbyterians, contributed to that fund. 
John S. Pillsbury, thrice elected Governor of Min- 
nesota, whose family are Congregationalists, gave 
$1,000; the late Levi Butler, M. D., whose wife is 
a devoted member of the Baptist church, gave $1,000; 
the late Franklin Steele, whose family attend the 
Protestant Episcopal church, gave $1,000; and Wil- 
liam C. Baker, a warden of the Reformed Episco- 
pal Church, gave $500. There is a good time coming, 
I believe, for Macalester College. Men in Minnesota 
are beginning to think that they ought to do some- 
thing for their posterity. The first bequest of any 
large amount for the public good of Minnesota, was 
that of Dr. Spencer, of Minneapolis. As a poor boy, 
he had taken care of the office of a professional man 
in Philadelphia, and there learned to read and value 
books, and before he died he provided a library for 
Minneapolis, one of the best, for reference, in this 
state. Gov. C. C Washburn, identified with the mil- 
ling interests of the same city, left a bequest of many 



124 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

thousands of dollars for the orphans, as a memorial 
to his mother. The first bequest in St. Paul for the 
benefit of posterity was that of the kind and unobtrus- 
ive Justus C. Ramsey, who gave $20,000 to help 
orphans, without regard to creed or nationality. 
Lately Anna, the faithful wife of the first governor 
of Minnesota, the beloved by her neighbors, when 
wasting away with disease, remembered in her will 
the St. Paul Home of the Friendless. Then there are 
other indications which are encouraging. Men are 
beginning to do good before they die. There has 
just been completed at Minneapolis a commodious 
edifice for our sisters who have been tempted by 
designing m.en, and dedicated this very day, the cost 
of which has been borne, if I am not misinformed, by 
one of her citizens. When the girls' department for 
the Baldwin School w^as first established I used to 
notice a little, pretty, black-eyed maiden, with school 
book in hand, going from her mother's residence to 
the school building, then surrounded by stumps and 
trees, now by a wilderness of houses. A few years 
ago I was called upon to unite her in marriage to her 
present husband, who has just placed a memorial 
to a deceased daughter by a former wife, most ap- 
propriate, and worthy of imitation. Instead of a 
costly monument of marble in a lone graveyard, he 
has furnished a room in the court house of Bayfield, 
Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Superior, with a 
library of valuable books to the memory of that 
daughter, which will be accessible to the young people 



OPENING OF THE COLLEGE. 135 

of the community. As the cities of St. Paul and 
Minneapolis advance in wealth and culture acts like 
these will multiply, and we may expect to see libraries 
and memorial halls erected on these grounds and 
professorships endowed. As yet it is the day of 
small things with Macalester College, but the trustees 
have no reason to be discouraged. If they walk by 
faith they will hear the still small voice saying: "In 
quietness and confidence is thy strength." Friends 
will appear at times and places least expected, and 
help out of difficulties as the black-winged raven with 
a loaf of bread came to the prophet. Guizot, the 
eminent French statesman, whose treatise upon the 
history of civilization is used in American colleges, in 
one of his works expresses his pride in his alma 
mater, and narrates its humble beginning and slow 
development. He portrays a scholar with a thought- 
ful face and attenuated figure, three centuries ago, 
going from house to house, asking for contributions 
for the beginning of a college. The scholar was the 
learned Frenchman, John Calvin; the college has 
struggled on and become the distinguished University 
of Geneva." 

After Dr. Neill's address the dedicatory prayer was 
ofifered by Rev. Daniel Rice, D. D. The Westminster 
choir sang another anthem after which the formal 
exercises were concluded, the Rev. R. F. Maclaren pro- 
nouncing the benediction. The ladies of the Presbyte- 
rian churches of Minneapolis and St. Paul served a 
repast to the visitors in the chapel and in the class 



126 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

rooms. Then toasts were in order. Dr. McCurdy 
spoke on Macalester as a living institution ; Rev. R. 
J. Service, on Colleges and the Church; Professor D. 
L. Kiehle, on Colleges and the Public Schools ; W. B. 
Dean, Colleges and Business; Gen. R. W. Johnson, 
Colleges and National Progress ; Dr. J. G. Reihldaffer, 
Colleges and Women ; Rev. J. P. Dysart, Colleges and 
Missions; Rev. James Patterson, Hon. Ell. Torrance, 
Colleges and Women. 

Impromtu remarks were made by Dr. McFetridge, 
Dr. Kirkwood and Professor Pearson, and thus ended 
the opening exercises. The professors announced the 
work for their respective classes and the college was 
declared opened. It had been a gala day for the Pres- 
byterians of the Twin Cities. Considerable interest 
had been aroused. Would it be permanent? What 
would the future hold for Macalester? 

The Press of the Twin Cities spoke appreciatingly 
of the college and its prospects ; but especially cordial 
were the felicitations of an editorial article in The Pio- 
neer Press : ''By the formal dedication of Macalester 
College yesterday another is added to the list of insti- 
tutions of the state for higher education, and another 
to the number of colleges in St. Paul. The vitality 
shown in the long struggle through which it has work- 
ed its way to the beginnings of actual work and hope- 
ful promise is a strong guarantee for the future. It 
has taken energy and zeal in the cause of education and 
a strong faith to build the Macalester College of today, 



OPENING OF THE COLLEGE. 127 

as it stands fitted for high usefulness. The same quali- 
ties that have sustained it in the day of small things 
will not permit it to fail of its mission or to d sappoint 
the expectation of those who have labored so earnestly 
for what is now accomplished. Every such institu- 
tion as this deserves a triple welcome. It is an im- 
portant element in the upbuilding of a city to which 
it adds both character and attractiveness. It is an ad- 
junct in that diversification of educational work which 
everywhere follows advancing civilizat'on. The great- 
est, the richest, the most renowned institution of learn- 
ing in the world would not supply all the needs of the 
community in which it might be located. Restless hu- 
manity demands a variety of instruments in mental 
culture, and intellectual individuahty is fostered by their 
multiplication as long as they strive for the best and 
highest. 

*'It is an aid in the great educational wor' iq 
which the Northwest takes so lively an interest. With 
the increase of our population and the demand of the 
new generations for both more and better facilities 
for culture, every college established to satisfy these 
increasing wants takes its place by the side of a new 
item added to the sum of human knowledge. Still 
others will soon be found in that space so well adapted 
to them, the immediate region between the thickly set- 
tled portions of the two cities. There is room and 
work for them all. And meanwhile the educational 
world welcomes the advent of Macalester College, long 



i:^ MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

a name of promise, as a present and potent actuality.'*^ 
There was cheer in this greeting from the power- 
ful pen of Joseph Wheelock, a man of great influence 
in the American newspaper world. 

^Editorial, Pioneer Press, Sept. 17th, 1885. 



CHAPTER VII. 
THE FACULTY AND STUDENT LIFE, 

It is sometimes asked what is the difference between 
the course of studies offered in a Christian college 
and the curriculum of a secular institution. A com- 
parison of the courses in these two types of institu- 
tions would probably reveal no striking differences 
aside from the fact that the Christian college has a 
required course in Bible study and the secular institu- 
tion offers a wider range of electives. 

There is of course, no Presbyterian chemistry, no 
Methodist biology, no Congregational physics and no 
Baptist astronomy as contrasted with purely secular 
sciences, etc. All exact sciences and all departments 
of knowledge that are based upon scientific principles 
present the same facts whether studied in Christian 
or in secular schools. But in the Christian college 
the aim is to make all truth bear on the development 
of strong and noble Christian character. That is the 
ultimate purpose of every denominational school and 
not science for science's sake, or for the sake of money 
or honor. 

In the realm of philosophy or ethics the denomina- 
tional school in most cases is more positive than is the 
secular institution. Not infrequently a masked atheism 
or pantheism is taught in secular schools in the name 



130 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

of science. Has the Christian church not the right to 
teach the Christian philosophy in its colleges — a phil- 
osophy which holds to a personal God and a Divine 
Christ? It does not leave the subject of immortahty 
an open question. It believes in an imperative duty 
and regards agnosticism and pantheism as subversive 
of the best interests of humanity. It holds that the 
scriptures have an educational value by no means in- 
ferior to the works of Socrates or Plato or Aristotle; 
and it believes in a pedagogy that is pervaded by the 
Christian spirit. 

Controlled by these views a course of studies was 
arranged for Macalester that would enable the student 
to acquire knowledge, to learn to think, and to use 
his spiritual powers ; to open his mind to noble visions 
and broad views ; to make him sympathetic toward his 
fellow men, and appreciative of the good and beautiful 
wherever found. And above all the curriculm was in- 
tended as an aid to bring the student into touch with 
the great Master who said: "I am come that they 
might have life, and have it more abundantly."^ 

The prospectus announced that the college was 
"Denominational but not Sectarian," and that "it aims 
to secure thorough education in the classics, in the 
sciences and in Modern Languages and Literature, 
through experienced teachers and under positive re- 
ligious influences." It adopted the motto : "Christus 
in omnibus, Lex et Lux." 

But the germinal principle, the ideals of a Chris- 

ijohn X: lo. 



FACULTY AND STUDENT LIFE. 131 

tian college cannot be listed in a catalog. They are 
those quiet influences which are exercised by trustees, 
faculty and students that make for the building up 
of the highest type of manhood and womanhood. 

Macalester College was fortunate in the men that 
constituted its first faculty. With utmost care Dr. 
McCurdy had selected men who were proficient in 
their several departments. They were men of great 
teaching ability, of high and decided character, thor- 
oughly devoted to the work to which they were called. 
They made a profound impression upon the young men 
under their influence and are today held in loving re- 
gard and veneration by those whom they taught. To 
their ideals and usefulness rather than to any policy 
of the administration the college owes much of its 
character. They and the students of the first few 
years are the creators of the "Macalester spirit." The 
judgment of the future will probably confirm present 
opinion that Dr. McCurdy rendered his best service 
to the college when he chose the men who constituted 
Macalester's first faculty. 

These men according to the order in wHTch their 
names appeared in the faculty list of the prospectus 
were, next to the president, with whom we have al- 
ready become acquainted : 

Rev. William R. Kirkwood, D. D. 

The Professor of Mental Science and Logic, Dr. 
Kirkwood, had graduated from Washington College in 
1859, ^"^ h^^ pursued his theological studies at Alle- 



132 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

gheny Seminary. After several very happy pastorates 
in Ohio and in Kansas he was called to Macalester. 
While in Ohio, Dr. Kirkwood had rendered valuable 
service to Wooster University as financial secretary ancl 
had a large share in the building up of that institution. 
Dr. McCurdy had known him for many years as the 
fiscal agent for Wooster University, and saw in his 
old friend the right man to fill the important chair to 
which he was called. This was indeed a happy choice. 
Dr. Kirkwood is a man of wide and thorough scholar- 
ship. As a teacher he is a natural drill master, and 
the students felt that he had full command of the sub- 
jects he had in hand. But he was more than a teacher, 
he was also a preacher of great ability. In all his work 
he was enthusiastic and painstaking and when after 
five years of most efficient service he left Macalester to 
occupy a similar position at Emporia college, the stu- 
dents, the faculty and the residents of Macalester Park 
expressed profound regret over his leaving and gave 
loving testimony of the high regard in which they held 
him. 

2. Dr. Nathaniel S. McFetridge occupied the chair 
of Greek and Anglo Saxon. This gifted teacher serv- 
ed Macalester for only a short period before death call- 
ed him to his reward. His connection with the college 
was so brief that he could not exercise a very determin- 
ing influence upon it. But those who were privileged 
to be his students during the one year that he taught 
hold him in kindly remembrance. He was a favorite 
pupil of the distinguished Professor Marsh and gradu- 



FACULTY AND STUDENT LIFE. 133 

at«d from Lafayette College m 1864, and from West- 
ern Theological Seminary in 1867. As a student he 
took high rank, showing great proficiency in the lan- 
guages. He was a sweet-spirited, high-minded and 
refined man. When he realized that a fatal disease 
Avould cut short his sojourn upon earth, he often ex- 
pressed the wish that the Lord might permit him to de- 
vote ten years to Macalester, believing that in a decade 
it would occupy a high rank among Christian institu- 
tions. 

His death on Dec. 3, 1886, was a great loss* to the 
college. Marvelous are the ways of Providence. The 
death of this lamented teacher was instrumental in 
bringing to Macalester the man who may fittingly be 
called the savior of the institution — Dr. James Wallace. 

3. Professor Charles Forbes, M. D., was placed at 
the head of the department of Natural Sciences and 
was the college physician. Dr. Forbes graduated from 
Rochester University and for several years was prin- 
cipal of an academy in Western New York. He was 
a congenial man, an advanced teacher of chemistry 
and known for his successful experiments in physics 
and photography. He resigned in 1892. 

4. Professor Frank B. Pearson was the youngest 
member of the faculty. He had graduated from Woos- 
ter University in 1883. Before coming to Macalester, 
he was engaged in the public schools of Ohio. Upon 
Dr. McCurdy's recommendation he was elected to the 
chair of Latin Languages and Literature. He was a 
professor of great ability, an enthusiastic teacher and 



134 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

had unusual skill in imparting knowledge to others. A 
man of social disposition, enjoying even a few student 
pranks, he had the confidence of the students and the 
esteem of his collegues. During the six years that he 
was a professor in the college he was the secretary of 
the faculty and for a time after Dr. McCurdy's resigna- 
tion he was by request of the trustees chairman at all 
the faculty meetings. In the spring of 1892, he re- 
signed his professorship to become agent for Ginn and 
Co., in Ohio. 

5. When the chair of Greek had become vacant Dr. 
McCurdy was petitioned by some of the students, who 
had been pupils under Dr. Wallace at Wooster Acad- 
emy, asking that he be called to the professorship of 
Greek and Anglo Saxon. The request was supported 
strongly by members of the faculty who knew Dr. Wal- 
lace well. Dr. Wallace had graduated from Wooster 
University in 1874 and immediately thereupon became 
a teacher in his Alma Mater. Each succeeding year 
made him increasingly popular. After six years of 
teaching he went abroad for one year to perfect his 
knowledge of Greek at Athens. Returning to Woos- 
ter he continued as adjunct professor of Greek, and 
published a Greek text book, the Anabesis, for college 
classes. 

Dr. Wallace was, at first, quite unwilling to give up 
his excellent position at Wooster, but after strong ap- 
peals, in which Dr. McCurdy assured him that the fi- 
nancial condition of the college was stable, and that 
the prospects for the institution were most promising, 




Professor James Wallace, Ph. D • LL D 

Acting-President, 1894-1900.' 

President, 1900-1906. 



FACULTY AND STUDENT LIFE. 135 

he yielded to the call of the trustees and to the re- 
quests of his friends in the Northwest. 

6. The Senior Professor of the college in 1885 was 
Dr. Neill. In 1880 he had offered to resign the presi- 
dency of Macalester in order to facilitate the tratisfer 
of the college to synodical auspices. A special ar- 
rangement was made between himself and the trustees 
at that time whereby he was to be retained as professor 
of Political Economy and History when the institution 
should be opened. By his scholarly methods as a 
teacher he encouraged a real thirst for knowledge in 
all his pupils. He never taught in the Academy and 
was always opposed to the presence of women in the 
institution. A later chapter is devoted to an account 
of his life and work. 

7. In 1886 Rev. Daniel Rice, D. D., was chosen to 
the professorship of Biblical History and Literature. 
Dr. Rice had graduated from Amherst in 1837. Aft- 
er teaching two years in Hancock Academy in New 
Hampshire, he studied theology at Andover and in 
Lane Seminary, graduating in 1842. He served pas- 
torates in Troy and Cincinnati, Ohio, Lafayette, In- 
diana, and Duluth, Minnesota. He was also connected 
with the Western Female Seminary, Oxford, Ohio, and 
was president of the Logansport Female College from 
1872-1875. From 1860-1875 he was a trustee of Wa- 
bash College. 

After the Synodical Fund for Macalester had been 
secured, he became a trustee and later professor in the 
college. Dr. Rice was a splendid organizer and a man 



136 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

who had the faculty of inspiring others. As a preacher 
he was a man of great power and tenderness. He died 
on the fifth day of April, 1889, having devoted his long 
life to Christian service, "not slothful in business; 
fervent in spirit ; serving the Lord." 

The chair of mathematics was vacant during the 
first year of the college, Professor Pearson being the 
temporary instructor in those branches. In 1886 James 
H. Boyd, an honor graduate of Princeton, in the class 
of 1885, was elected Professor of Mathematics. He 
was a prodigy in his department, and a teacher of 
remarkable ability. During 1 890-1, he studied abroad, 
securing the degree of Doctor of Science from the 
University of Goettingen, where he was a pupil of Dr. 
Klein, known as the ablest mathematician in Germanv. 
He resigned in 1892 to accept a position in the faculty 
of the University of Chicago. Dr. Boyd is the author 
of a text book on Higher Algebra. 

At the opening of the school thirty-six students 
were present and when the spring term of the first year 
closed the total enrollment had increased to 
fifty-two. Of this number six were regular freshmen ; 
the rest were preparatory students in the Baldwin 
School. The following four years witnessed a steady 
increase in attendance. 

In character and attainments the students won the 
admiration of the faculty and of the Board of Trus- 
tees. Many of them were preparing for the ministry ; 
some for Y. M. C. A. work, others were expecting to 
become foreign missionaries, and some were looking 




Rev. Daniel Rice, D. D. 



FACULTY AND STUDENT LIFE. 137 

toward other professions. A deep and wholesome 
spirit of religion pervaded the college. 

But the students were not pietists. They enjoyed 
good-natured fun and indulged in college pranks and 
innocent abandon as all normal, healthy young men do. 
The faculty minutes show that quite frequently it was 
necessary to check their boyish glee. Some even had 
to be urged to be more regular in church attendance 
and others were admonished against being too noisy 
in chapeh Once, indeed, a raid was made upon the 
pantry in the refectory and on a few occasions minor 
acts of vandalism were committed for which the fac- 
ulty pronounced solemn censures. An occasional night- 
shirt parade accompanied by unearthly noises seems to 
have furnished a pastime of extraordinary delight. 
Not infrequently they serenaded the professors and de- 
manded a speech in recognition of their performances. 
There is a monotonous sameness in the minutes of the 
faculty meetings of those early years, showing that 
there were few occurrences not characteristic of college 
life. In general everything went on in an even, quiet 
way. But there were plentiful evidences of sterling 
manhood among the students and of earnest purpose 
to do studious work. 

In the second year seventy-two students were in 
the school, of whom eighteen were in the college; in 
the third year, eighty-six, with twenty-five in the col- 



138 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

lege; in the fourth year, one hundred and one, forty- 
five of whom were in the college.^ 

On the same day the school opened the young men 
organized a baseball team that made a splendid record. 
During the next four years Macalester lost only one 
game. In this sport Macalester has always been ex- 
ceptionally strong. Football was not played till the 
fall of 1889. Although the college has had some 
strong football teams, in recent years it has not aroused 
as much interest as baseball. In field and track work, 
however, Macalester made her best records during the 
first five years. 

From the beginning Macalester students took a 
live interest in literary work. The first society organ- 
ized for perfection in public speaking, debates, reci- 
tations, essays, etc., was named the "Academic." It 
was opened to preparatory and collegiate students 
alike. In the second year when the collegians had 
been reinforced they formed a society of their own 
and the preparatory students, not satisfied with the 
character of the "Academic" organized a new society 
which has continued up to the present time, known- 
as the Parthenon. 

The college society referred to above was called 
the Hyperion Society, organized September 24th, 1886. 
Its first officers were: J. C. Hambleton, president; W. 
P. Lee, vice-president ; J. W. Cochran, Jr., recording 
secretary; W. P. Kirkwood, corresponding secretary; 



^Report of the Trustees to the Synod, Minutes of the 
Synod of Minn., 1888, page 172. 



FACULTY AND STUDENT LIFE. 139 

J. K. Hall, chaplain; M. A. Clark, treasurer; S. M. 
Kirkwood, critic, and Geo. W. Achard, sergeant at 
arms. 

The motto adopted by this society was "Synergo- 
men" — "Let us work together." That it accomplished 
good work is evident from the intercollegiate records 
of some of its members. 

In 1888, W. P. Lee and B. W. Irvin won first and 
second place respectively in the oratorical contest held 
at home ; in the state contest Mr. Irvin was awarded 
first place and an honorable place was given him in 
the interstate oratorical contest. The oration which 
brought to him and to Macalester such honor was enti- 
tled, "The Pope in Politics." In 1889 J. W. Cochran 
and C. A. Winter represented Macalester in the Inter- 
state Oratorical Contest, Mr. Winter securing third 
place. The Hyperion Society for many years gave a 
public entertainment on Washington's birthday. This 
was always a treat. Hyperion is in a flourishing condi- 
tion today, its membership consisting of both men and 
women of the college. It has the distinction of being 
the oldest College Society. 

Another evidence of student enterprise is found 
in the establishment of a college paper — "The Macales- 
ter Echo." On Oct. i, 1886, G. W. Achard, J. C. 
Hambleton, J. L. Underwood, and S. M. Kirkwood 
were recognized by the faculty as the board of man- 
agers and editors of this publication. It was a six 
column folio paper edited by S. M. Kirkwood and J. 
C. Hambleton. The Echo later appeared in pamphlet 



140 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

form. It rendered valuable service to the college and 
contains much information on the early period of Mac- 
alester's life that will always be an important source. 
As its subscriptions became delinquent it failed to be 
self-supporting and in 1898 was discontinued. This, 
in many ways, was very unfortunate. For several 
years the college had no other medium of informing 
patrons, former students and alumni concerning its 
inner life. A magazine called the Macalester Monthly 
was issued for one year, 1898-9, but its character was 
too heavy, and not calculated to be a popular organ of 
the student body. After one year it was discontinued. 
Until 1905, when the "Bulletin" was first issued, the 
college had no publication excepting the catalog. 

The first annual commencement of the college 
was held on Wednesday, June 12th, 1889. The class 
which began in 1885 as freshmen, with only six mem- 
bers, did not grow smaller, as is the rule in almost 
every institution, but increased to ten in the senior 
year. Of these, four entered the ministry; two be- 
came missionaries ; two, lawyers ; one, a physician, and 
one, a teacher. All were professing Christians and 
men of whom their Alma Mater has had repeated occa- 
sion to be proud. 

But commendable as was the student life, giving 
the trustees occasion for deep gratification, as much 
could not be said of the relations of the faculty. A 
familiar proverb says that "when poverty comes in 
through the door, love flies out through the win- 
dow." Whether the financial troubles which began 




Macalester's First Graduates. 



FACULTY AND STUDENT LIFE. 141 

to thicken were responsible for all the discord in the 
faculty, it would be difficult to assert; they prob- 
ably were an aggravating" cause. That several mem- 
bers of the faculty were persona non grata with the 
administration owing to radical differences of opinion 
on matters of policy was an open secret. This led 
Dr. Rice, who felt out of harmony with the condition, 
to resign. An urgent request of the faculty, however, 
persuaded him to continue his work in the college.^ 

On the ground that retrenchment necessitated a 
reduction of the teaching force, the trustees, on July 
8th, 1889, declared the chair of Mental Science and 
Logic vacant after the following first of September.^ 
This action precipitated a storm of protests from the 
students, residents of Macalester Park and other 
friends of the college. Within a month of the Trus- 
tees' action one thousand dollars had been subscribed 
by friends of Dr. Kirkwood to retain him in the college. 
It was surprising how quickly money could be raised 
when an urgent appeal was made in the interests of 
some one particular person. 

An arrangement was made by which Dr. Kirkwood 
remained in the faculty for that year, but before it 
had ended he accepted a similar position in Emporia 
College, Kansas. After he had severed his connec- 
tion with Macalester his colleagues paid him a high 
tribute in causing the following resolution to be spread 
on their minutes : "Inasmuch as Professor Kirkwood 

^Minutes of the faculty, Book i, page 117. 
^Record B, Minutes of the Trustees, page 100. 



142 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

has accepted a position in another institution we desire 
to put on record our high appreciation of the work 
he has done in connection with Macalester College. 
He has proved himself to be an indefatigable student, 
a scholar of wide and varied attainments, a clear, forci- 
ble and interesting preacher, an earnest and successful 
teacher and a prudent counsellor. He has exerted a 
strong Christian influence among the students and 
has done much to cultivate in them a spirit of manly 
independence. He carries with him our cordial esteem 
and earnest prayers for his success in his new field 
of labor." i 

F. B. Pearson, Chairman, James Wallace, Sec*y. 

Dated Sept. 20, 1890. 

Similar appreciation in behalf of the student body 
was expressed in the Echo of Oct. 13, 1890. 

An indispensable factor in a college course to-day 
is a good working library. At the organization of the 
faculty, in 1885, Dr. Neill was made librarian. Dr. 
Neill was a great lover of books and had visited many 
of the best libraries of Europe. His ambition was to 
secure a first class reference library for Macalester. 
Among the first to respond to his appeals was James 
J. Hill, who offered to give $5,000 on condition that 
a fire-proof building, costing not less than $20,000 
were erected.^ Although the trustees were not able to 
comply with these conditions, Mr. Hill gave liberally, 



iMinutes of Faculty I, P. 238. 

^Minutes of the Board of Trustees, Record "B," page 69. 



FACULTY AND STUDENT LIFE. 143 

since Mr. H. A. Moss had erected a modest little fire- 
proof structure to be used as a library building. 

From another friend, Mr. A. H. Wilder, of St. 
Paul, Dr. Neill received five hundred dollars for the 
library, and from a lady of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church the same amount.^ The Misses Yandes, 
of Minneapolis, donated a little over one thousand 
volumes, and Mrs. Mary Chase Morris, of Washing- 
ton, D. C, gave five hundred dollars for the purchase 
of books.2 

By the courtesy of W. C. Baker, one of the early 
trustees and contributors, Macalester College library 
became the depository of some remarkable literary 
treasures. These books w^ere a portion of the library 
of a famous German scholar, Dr. Kloss, of Frank- 
fort-on-the-Main. In this collection were two books 
very valuable for their historical connection. They 
were once the property of Philip Melanchton, and are 
full of manuscript annotations. One is a copy of Vale- 
rius Maximus, the Roman historian, printed in 1508, the 
other a copy of the Moralist Seneca, printed in 1490. 
Among other works is the first book said to have 
been printed in Heidelberg. There is also a manu- 
script with an interesting history containing the ser- 
mons which a Father Henry delivered in the nunnery 
at Nuremberg. This manuscript was copied by five 
sisters of the convent of Saflingen near Ulm.^ 



^Minutes of the Board of Trustees, Record "B," page 75. 
^Minutes of the Board of Trustees, Record "B," page 105. 
sPioneer Press, Nov. 13, 1888. 



144 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

The year 1890 witnessed important changes for 
Macalester. After the second class, numbering seven 
young men, had been graduated on June nth, Dr. 
McCurdy, on July 3rd, 1890, resigned the presidency. 
Through his efforts the college was opened. It was 
a beginning under great difficulties which was followed 
by a period of storm and stress. After six years of 
academic toils he preferred the duties and uncertain- 
ties of the pastorate to the trials of a college presidency. 

On July nth of the same year Dr. David J. Burrell 
was elected his successor. He held this position until 
September, 189 1, when he resigned to accept a call to 
the Collegiate Reformed Church of New York City. 
In the same year that Dr. McCurdy left, Professor 
William R. Kirkwood, D. D., and Charles Forbes, 
M. D., also severed their connections with Macalester. 
Prof. James H. Boyd received a year's leave of absence 
to pursue special studies in mathematics in Europe. 

The vacancies in the faculty were filled by tem- 
porary instructors, Rev. M. P. Hill, D. D., of St. Paul, 
taking Dr. McCurdy's work in apologetics and Biblical 
studies ; Rev. John Woods, D. D., instructing in mental 
science and logic ; John PI. Cook, A. M., of Wesley an 
College, Ohio, teaching natural science, and George 
B. Covington, a graduate of Princeton, taking the 
departm.ent of mathematics while Prof. Boyd was 
abroad on leave' of absence. During this year Dev. D. 
E. Platter began a campaign for funds to pay off the 



FACULTY AND STUDENT LIFE. 



145 



college debt. The plan was to raise "$100,000 from large 
givers" and another "$100,000 from the willing heart- 
ed of less financial ability. "^ 



'Report of the Trustees to the Synod. Oct 10 1800 
Minutes of the Synod, Minn., 1890, page 286 ^' 



CHAPTER VIII. 

BIOGRAPHY OF DR. NEILL.* 

Dr. Neill's biography can be found in almost every 
modern encyclopedia, but most of the data in the fol- 
lowing sketch of his life were obtained from his auto- 
biography.^ Edward Duffield Neill was a descendant 
of John Neill, a lawyer, who emigrated from the north 
of Ireland to America in 1739, and settled in Dela- 
ware. He was the grandson of Dr. John and Eliza- 
beth Martin Neill, and Dr. Benjamin and Rebecca 
Potts Duffield. His parents were Dr. Henry and 
Martha Duffield Neill. He was born in Philadelphia, 
August 9th, 1823. After completing the pubhc 
school education he entered the University of Penn- 
sylvania 1837-8, and was graduated from Amherst 
college, Mass., in 1842. Thereupon he studied the- 
ology, first at Andover Theological Seminary in 1843, 
and completed his studies under the Rev. Dr. Albert 
Barnes and Rev. Dr. Thomas Brainerd, both eminent 
divines of Philadelphia. In October 1847, he mar- 
ried Miss Nancy Hall of Snow Hill, Maryland ; in the 
same year he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery 
of Galena, and received ordination in 1848. During 
1847-49 he was home missionary among the miners 



/ iSt. Paul Pamphlets, No. I., Historical Notes on the An- 

^ il cestry and Descendants of Henry Neill, M. D. pp. 14-23- 




Re;v. Edward D. NeiIvI., D. D. 

The Founder of 

Macalester Collegfe 



BIOGRAPHY OF DR. NEILL. 147 

at Elizabeth, 111. At his own request the New School 
Home Missionary Board in 1849 commissioned him 
to labor in Minnesota in a little hamlet known as St. 
Paul. He found a field suited to his liking where he 
need "not build upon another man's foundation." ^ 
After preaching a few weeks he was delegated by the 
Presbytery of Galena to attend the General Assembly 
which met in Philadelphia in May. From his rela- 
tives and friends he secured considerable aid for the 
erection of the first Protestant church edifice among 
the whites in Minnesota.^ On Nov. 29, 1849, the First 
Presbyterian Church of St. Paul was organized by 
him. In 1849-50 he preached alternately on Sunday 
afternoons at St. Anthony and Fort Snelling. In 
1850 he aided in forming the Presbytery of Minne- 
sota. In 1849 the Minnesota territory was organized. 
Dr. William Watts Folwell,^ ex-president of the State 
University, says in his recent history of Minnesota: 
After the organization of Minnesota territory "the 
most notable enactment was that for the establishment 
of a system of free schools for all children and youths 
of the territory, introduced by Martin McLeod, but 
probably drawn up by Rev. Edward Duffield Neill, 
the well-known historian of Minnesota." "To the 
honor of religion, its best friends are the foes of ignor- 
ance; and multitudes, illustrious for their piety, have 
been foremost in the cultivation of human learnig."^ 

iMinutes of the Synod of Minnesota, 1893, pp. 498, 499. 

2Pioneer Press, Sept 2'], 1893. 

^polwell, Minnesota, p. 90. 

^History of Harvard University by Benjamin Pierce, p. 56. 



148 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Such a man was Mr. Neill. In 1851, after taking a 
leading part in the organization of public schools in 
St. Paul and Minnesota, he was appointed the first 
superintendent of public instruction for the territory. 
He was one of the founders of the Minnesota State 
Historical Society; its secretary from 1851-1861 and 
a frequent contributor.^ In 1853 he founded the 
Baldwin School and was its president. On Dec. 24th, 
1855, he organized the House of Hope Church of St. 
Paul. In 1856 he prepared some of the important sec- 
tions of a charter for a Board of Education of the city 
of St. Paul, which was passed by the legislature. He 
was elected an inspector from the ward in which he 
lived, and at the organization of the Board, was made 
secretary, a position he held for several years. By 
him was devised the seal of the Board with the motto 
from the Greek poet, Menander, ''Educate youth, for 
men you can not." While absent from the city in the 
public service, the Board gave his name to the public 
school at the corner of Laurel Avenue and Farring- 
ton.^ When Minnesota became a state May 11, 1858, 
he offered the first prayer at the meeting of the state 
legislature. In this year he secured the charter of 
the State University and an enactment of the law 
which provided for its endowment and the erection 
of a suitable building. He was appointed its chan- 



1 See Proceedings of Minnesota Historical Society 1851- 
1858, Published in 1878. 

^ Historical Notes on the Ancestry and Descendants of 
Henry Neill, M. D., p. 17. 



BIOGRAPHY OF DR. NEILL. 149 

cellor and was retained as superintendent of Public 
Schools in the new state. He is largely responsible 
for the present admirable system of public schools in 
Minnesota. In 1858 he assisted in organizing the 
synod of Minnesota, and was stated clerk of the synod 
from 1858-1861. In 1861 he resigned his state ap- 
pointments and became chaplain of the First Minne- 
sota Regiment taking an honorable part in the battles 
of Bull Run, Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill. In his 
report on the battle of Bull Run, Col. Gorman wrote 
to Gen. Franklin : "My chaplain. Rev. E. D. Neill, 
was on the field the whole time and in the midst of 
danger, giving aid and comfort to the wounded." W. 
S. Croffuts, a newspaper correspondent and specta- 
tor, recorded the following incident of the battle : 'It 
was mainly through the determined efforts of Chaplain 
Neill, who came out (of Sudley Church Hospital) soon 
after, that an ambulance was procured and protected 
for Captain Acker and other wounded Minnesotans. 
I met the Chaplain again at one o'clock that night. 
He looked like all the rest, careworn and footsore, and 
I invited him to get up behind me on the quadruped 
which I had found, without saddle or bridle, in an ad- 
jacent field. With very little urging the chaplain put 
his foot in the hand of a friend and leaped upon the 
back of my patient Rosinante. He had not been 
seated two minutes before he began to grow uneasy 
of the privilege he was taking over the privates and 
accused himself of indulging in a luxury which was 
not general. I tried to convince him of the propri- 



ISO MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

ety of an officer riding a horse. He confessed the 
relief. 'But/ said he, 'these men are disheartened, I 
must walk at their head and encourage them to keep 
up; if they see me walking they will persevere.' Dur- 
ing much of the distance Parson Neill walked beside 
ambulances to defend them against being over- 
whelmed by the rush of exhausted men, and very 
frequently had' to resort to rough measures to protect 
the wounded occupants." ^ From 1862-64 he was Hos- 
pital Chaplain to the U. S. Army at the South Street 
Military Hospital of Philadelphia. In 1864 he was 
appointed to read and arrange the correspondence of 
President Lincoln, and was his secretary to sign land 
patents. After Lincoln's assassination he was one 
of President Johnson's private secretaries until 1868. 
He was appointed U. S. Consul at Dublin, Ireland, by 
President Grant, serving from 1869 to 1870. In 1870 
he returned to St. Paul and established Macalester 
College in 1874. In that year he joined the Reformed 
Episcopal Church, and was rector of the Calvary Re- 
formed Episcopal Church in St. Paul for several 
years, but in 1890 he returned to the Presbyterian 
Church. He received the degree D. D. from La- 
fayette College in 1886. 

Dr. Neill wrote: A History of Minnesota, 1858, 
with enlarged and revised editions 1873 and 1878; 
Terra Mariae or Threads of Maryland Colonial His- 
tory, 1867; Virginian Company of London, 1868; 

■•^St. Paul Pamphlets, No. i. Historical Notes on the 
Ancestry and Descend^^nts of Henry Neill, M. D., pp. 14-23. 



BIOGRAPHY OF DR. NEILL. 151 

Fairfaxes of England and America, 1868; English 
Colonization of America, 1871 ; Virginia Velusta, the 
Colony under James L, 1885; Minnesota Explorers 
and Pioneers, 1881 ; Virginia Carolorum, 1887; A 
Concise History of Minnesota. He was a member of 
and a contributor to the American Historical Associa- 
tion ; The Historical Society of Wisconsin ; The Mass- 
achusetts Historical Society and of the New England 
Historic Geneological Society. He was editor of the 
Macalester College Historical Contributions, a series 
of historical essays and biographies for which there 
has been a great demand from the larger universities 
of our country, such as Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, 
Wisconsin and Minnesota. He devoted almost his 
entire time to literary and historical researches, many 
of which were of great value. In England, in Ire- 
land, in France or in America he was always fond of 
delving in the archives for facts and data relating to 
the periods of history he was investigating. Bancroft 
acknowledged his indebtedness to Dr. Neill for many 
facts in the early history of Maryland which cor- 
rected his original views on the relations of the state 
to religion in that colony. Justin Winsor sent the 
proof sheets of his critical and narrative History of 
the United States to Prof. Neill for revision and for 
suggestions. His history of Minnesota will be of 
lasting value for a knowledge of the early period of 
this state. Dr. Frank L. McVey, President of the 
University of North Dakota wrote in his "Gk)vernment 
of Minnesota": "There is the series of pamphlets 



152 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

on Minnesota History, written and edited by Dr. E. 
D. Neill, under the title of Macalester College Con- 
tributions. Among these are many sketches and 
much valuable m.aterial relating to the early history 
of the state.'' ^ Prof. H. B. Adams, of Johns Hop- 
kins University wrote the following appreciation : 
"Let me thank you for your valuable College Con- 
tributions which have recently come to hand. The 
paper on Virginia Velusta was particularly useful 
"^ last week in one of my lectures." Prof. Frederick 
Turner of the University of Wisconsin : 'T have the 
pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your valuable 
contributions. They are of interest and service not 
only to the people of the upper Mississippi Valley, but 
also to the entire Northwest and especially to us of the 
Department LaBaye." - 

Dr. Neill was reared under conditions of noble 
culture and refinement. He was fond of literature 
and of art and enjoyed associating with people of 
fine tastes and the best training. That such a man 
should give up the comforts of his New England home 
and expose himself to the hardships of frontier life, 
not to amass a fortune, but to help promote the best 
interests of a new country in its formative period, 
shows that he possessed great will power and genu- 
ine patriotism. 

During the early period of the pioneer days Dr. 
Neill was very popular. An incident described in the 

iMcVey, Government of Minnesota (1908 Ed.) p. i. 
^Preface of the Macalester College Contributions, First 
Series, Page IIL 



BIOGRAPHY OF DR. NEILL. 153 

"Personal Recollections of Minnesota and its People," 
by Col. John H. Stevens, in 1890, will bear repeat- 
ing here: "Rev. E. D. Neill, then a young man, 
who had just come to St. Paul, gave us an occasional 
sermon (at Fort Snelling). He was a great favorite 
with Colonel Loomis and the rank and file of the Old 
Sixth Infantry. One pleasant mid-summer Sunday 
we were greatly alarmed when informed that Mr. 
Neill, who was accompanied by Mrs. Neill, while on 
his way to preach to us, had in consequence of an ac- 
cident fallen over the precipice on the opposite side 
of the Fort. Fortunately they received but little in- 
jury. As usual Mr. Neill gave us a useful and in- 
structive sermon. The next day Colonel Loomis 
came to Philander Prescott and myself and said he 
had taxed himself twenty dollars, Mr. Prescott, ten, 
and myself five, to be handed to Mr. Neill as a small 
"thanksgiving token" for the providential escape of 
his wife and himself when thrown from the carriage 
the previous day. We accordingly waited upon Mr. 
and Mrs. Neill, who were at Colonel Loomis' head- 
quarters, but Mr. Neill would only accept the tribute 
as a bestowal to the American Board of Missions, 
under whose auspices he was preaching the gospel in 
the then far Northwest." ^ He was beloved by those 
who knew his kind heart and respected by those com- 
petent to appreciate his scholarship. The early pio- 
neers, the soldiers and the poor, called him their 

^Stephen, Personal Recollections of Minnesota and Its 
People, p. 39. 



154 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

friend. They requested his ministry in their sick- 
nesses and asked him to conduct the last services over 
their remains. A touching incident is related by the 
Pioneer Press in connection w^ith the funeral of Louis 
E. Fisher in March, 1889. ''After pronouncing a 
wdiTm eulogy upon Mr. Fisher the doctor referred to 
the constant transfer of the pioneers of Minnesota to 
the land of shadows, tears dimming his eyes and his 
voice slightly tremulous with emotion: "And by and 
by there will be no old frontier minister to preach 
their funeral sermons."^ 

Dr. Neill was a man of admirable physique, 
of courtly bearing and scholarly taste. He 
was a gentleman of the Old School pos- 
sessed of a high sense of honor, of indomitable per- 
severance, of deep convictions and of marked indi- 
viduality. He was endowed with all the elements, 
intellectual and moral which enter into the composi- 
tion of a great character. But he was not exempt 
from the frailities of human nature. Men sometimes 
thought him brusque in manner and too dictatorial. 
It irritated him when he failed to win strong and en- 
thusiastic support for his educational enterprises. His 
temper was hasty and passionate. The warmth and 
quickness of his passions, especially after his return 
from Europe, may probably furnish the reason for his 
inability to lead some prominent laymen and a few 
ministers to co-operate with him in the endeavor to 

^Pioneer Press, December 27, 1893. 



BIOGRAPHY OF DR. NEILL. 155 

found a college. After making all deductions which 
can be demanded, he is still entitled to a high rank 
among scholars and missionaries. 

He fully deserved the tribute paid to him by Col- 
onel Stevens in the history cited above : "Minnesota 
was peculiarly fortunate in the advent of many of its 
early settlers ; but to no one is the state more indebted 
for a combination of everything that is desirable in 
one person, than to Mr. Neill. As a Christian minis- 
ter, writer, patriot and philanthropist, his name will 
be handed down to future generations, and his mem- 
ory will be ever revered by those who have the good 
of the world at heart. To him we are greatly in- 
debted for perfecting our system of common 
schools." ^ 

Mr. Neill was orginally a man of considerable 
means, but he spent all his property for the good of 
others. His whole life was devoted to those agencies 
which he believed would make men wiser and better. 
The darling object of his life was the founding of a 
Christian non-sectarian college in the upper valley of 
the Mississippi. When Macalester was established un- 
der Presbyterian control and the new president placed 
him, the senior professor, at the bottom of the faculty 
list, when, contrary to the original agreement with 
the synod of Minnesota, young women were admitted 
into the men's college; and when he saw that Macal- 
ester was on the sure road to financial disaster, Dr. 

^ Stephen, Personal Recollections of Minnesota and Its 
People, p. 39. 



iS6 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Neill's heart was ready to break. The last years of 
his life were not happy. Often he felt depressed in 
spirit. His pioneer friends had preceded him into 
the great beyond and the younger generation, and the 
new settlers paid only slight attention to him. A man 
of sensitive feelings, conscious of his own worth, he 
naturally suffered keenly under such neglect. 

It is a pleasant and profitable task to contemplate 
a life so rich in noble achievement, and a personal- 
ity so strong and willing to sacrifice itself for the 
highest good of posterity. Macalester has great rea- 
son to be proud of its relation to this grand pioneer, 
scholar and educator. His end came suddenly as a 
result of heart failure, Sept. 26th, 1893. "Blessed 
are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : 
Yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their 
labors ; and their w^orks do follow^ them." 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE HISTORY OF THE DEBT AND ITS 
LIQUIDATION. 

It is quite generally known that the cost for main- 
taining an institution of higher learning exceeds sever- 
al times the receipts from students in the form of tui- 
tion and incidental fees. Any college aiming to do 
first class work, therefore, must have an adequate en- 
dowment, or must have other provisions for its suste- 
nance, such as the pledges of individual patrons or the 
promise of church organizations. The existence and 
the growth of a school are determined by its financial 
resources. Public confidence in a college also depends 
largely upon the administration of its financial affairs. 
When that is open to severe criticism its life is jeopar- 
dized. 

Macalester has enjoyed the reputation for thorough- 
ness in classroom work. The Synod on numerous 
occasions has commended the college for the strength 
of its courses, and for the uplifting influences exerted 
upon the student body by its high Christian ideals. Its 
alumni have rendered valuable service to church and 
to state. 

But every friend of Macalester refers with apology 
to the pecuniary aspect of its history. For many years 
the college was so impoverished that its future seemed 



158 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

absolutely hopeless. Much that is partly true and part- 
ly false, and much that is altogether wrong has been 
said about this side of Macalester's existence. Those 
who have been most directly connected with the col- 
lege during its days of poverty, the trustees, other 
patrons, members of the faculty and students have 
heard and read so much about the debt and the effort 
to cancel it, the hopes and disappointments of the 
days of struggle, that if their wishes were heeded many 
facts which must be referred to in this chapter would 
not be recorded. The author's task would be made very 
much lighter if he could pass over this financial chap- 
ter. But that would be inconsistent with his sense of 
historical accuracy as well as an injustice to the reader, 
who wishes to know the truth about the college. 

Furthermore, no one can ever understand Macales- 
ter's past without knowing its financial difficulties. Few 
institutions, if any, were so severely tried. But it was 
in the period of direst poverty that the college gained 
its birthright; then, through the consecration of its 
faculty, the loyalty of the students and the faith and 
devotion of a few generous friends its right to exist 
was won so that it is no longer disputed. 

At the opening of the college in 1885 it had forty 
acres of land, free of debt. The building which stood 
near the corner of Lincoln and Snelling Avenues was 
the east wing of the structure planned by the trustees 
in 1883. See pas^e 100. This building, which cost thir- 
ty thousand dollars, was erected free of debt, from the 
proceeds accruing from the sale of the Winslow House 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. iS9 

in 1 88 1. Fifty thousand dollars was the sum the Min- 
neapolis Exposition Co. paid for it ; of this amount 
thirty thousand dollars were payable on time, well se- 
cured by mortgages and insurance policies. The bal- 
ance of ten thousand dollars was paid in the form of 
real estate, consisting chiefly of city property, renting 
for about forty dollars per month.^ 

In order to render the Winslow House or the^old 
Macalester College more salable the trustees had it 
painted and renovated at a cost of two thousand eight 
hundred and fifteen dollars. This money was taken 
from the Baldwin Fund that Dr. Neill had raised. In 
February, 1883, the trustees pledged Dr. Neill to re- 
fund this sum in the very near future. But when the 
college opened in 1885 the amount had not been re- 
turned.^ 

The Synodical Endowment for the president's chair 
was rated at thirty thousand dollars. In 1885 Pr. Rice 
reported to the Synod : "The $30,000 pledged to Mac- 
alester college has been paid with the exception of 
$S,ooo. informally promised by Westminster Church, 
the securing of which by the concurrent counsel of the 
pastor and the president of Macalester College has 
been temporarily deferred to be more successfully 
merged in a broader movement, and toward which the 
pastor has recently subscribed $coo.oo."3 

iTJeport of tVie Synofl's rommittee on Macalester College, 
Mintites of Svnod. t88t, pno-e 34?. 

2Record **B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, Appen- 
dix. 

^Minutes of the Synod of Minn., 1885, page 18. 



i6o MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

In 1884 the Synodical College Secretary reported 
that "two persons have promised to give $25,000 each 
to Macalester conditioned on an additional subscription 
of $200,000."^ But in September, 1885, not one cent of 
further endowment had been raised, and the funds pre- 
viously secured were not complete. The treasurer's 
balance sheet for Dec. i, 1886, valued the two endow- 
ment funds, that is the Synod fund and the Baldwin 
fund together, at fifty thousand dollars, instead of 
fifty-five thousand dollars. 

In order to provide homes for the professors the 
trustees had four large houses built on Summit Avenue 
between Snelling and Macalester Avenues. These 
buildings were much too large for the professors' needs 
and not at all suited to the rigor of the Minnesota win- 
ter. Their construction cost the. college twenty thou- 
sand dollars, all of which was borrowed money. The 
college, therefore, had income producing endowment 
funds of only fifty thousand dollars and real estate 
property in Minneapolis valued at ten thousand dollars 
more. On the other hand it had a debt of twenty thous- 
and dollars. The treasurer's report for the first three 
years showed an excess of disbursements over receipts 
amounting to a little more than six thousand dollars 
a year. 

The resources for Dec. i, 1886, on grounds, build- 
ings, endowments and furniture were rated at $159,000 
and the indebtedness $27,920.61.2 By November 30, 



1 Minutes of the Synod of Minn., 1884, page 487., 
^Record "B," minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 3. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. i6i 

1887, additional subscriptions to the synodical endow- 
ment fund were secured amounting to $1,902.92 and 
on May 31, 1888, this endowment was stated as ^26,- 
73^- 59- There is no evidence of any concerted or in- 
dependent action by the trustees and the synod look- 
ing towards the raising of additional endowment until 
October, 1887, when a committee of the Board of Trus- 
tees reported to synod an action of the trustees decided 
upon on October 4th of that year ■} ''As the attention 
of the Presbyterians is called to the Centennial Anni- 
versary of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
States, and inasmuch as it is determined by the General 
Assembly of our church to memorialize this event by 
increased benefactions to various objects connected 
with the church work, among which is Christian college 
education; therefore be it 'Resolved, i, That we take 
proper steps to inaugurate a movement to be carried 
forward throughout the Centennial year, for the pur- 
poses of raising at least $200,000 for Higher Christian 
Education and that this amount be applied to the En- 
dowment Fund of Macalester College/ 

" 'Resolved, 2. That we ask the Synod of Minne- 
sota to endorse this action and to recommend the same 
as the Synod's offering to the Centennial Celebration/ 

" 'Resolved, 3. That we recommend the Synod to 
appoint a committee of Seven (7) with power to fill 
vacancies, and if necessary, to add to their number, 
not exceeding two (2), to which all details of this 
movement shall be referred, with power to act, and to 

^Minutes of the Synod of Minn., 1887, page loi. 



i62 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

make full report to the next meeting of the Synod.' "^ 

The Synod received this report and appointed a 
committee of nine under whose direction began the cam- 
paign to raise $200,000 which should be divided be- 
tween Macalester and Albert Lea. After a canvass 
extending throughout the year $30,242. 36^ were sub- 
scribed, and of this sum Macalester was awarded 
$23,879.79. How much of the subscription was collect- 
ed the records do not show. But this ended the Me- 
morial compaign. 

From some of the older ministers of the state, still 
living, it is learned that the Presbyterian clergy were 
not in cordial sympathy with the institution. The reason 
for this was that the struggling home missionaries, and 
the ministers and elders, whose churches were burdened 
with financial obligations could not see their way clear 
to deprive themselves in order to support a college 
whose management they believed to be extravagant. 
It was known that the president received $3,000 and 
house yearly, while each of the professors was paid 
$2,000 and a house. 

As the cost of running the college was much larger 
than its receipts and no provision was made for the 
annual deficits, its financial condition was steadily 
growing worse and the debt had increased to $30,000 
when the trustees, in 1887, proceeded to erect another 
building, whose cost when completed amounted to six- 
ty-eight thousand dollars. About $20,000 was collect- 

iMinutes of the Synod of Minn., 1887, page loi. 
^Minutes of the Synod of Minn., 1888, page 159. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 163 

ed for the new Main building, the rest of the money 
was simply borrowed, as payments had to be made to 
the contractors from time to time. This was done 
in spite of the fact that the Board had voted on Jan. 
5, 1887, that "in no case" should the building committee 
of the college "contract any expense beyond the amount 
of funds on hand available for that purpose."^ 

In order to secure the necessary funds mortgages 
were issued on the college grounds. The first loan for 
$24,000 at 7% to be secured by mortgage on the north 
ten acres of college property, Feb. 26, 1888.^ The 
interest on further loans was 7% for some notes and 
8% for others. 

The original debt, the annual deficit of not less than 
$6,000 for current expenses, and the interest on all the 
borrowed money very rapidly increased the total in- 
debtedness. How quickly it grew may be gathered 
from these figures-^ : Net liabilities, Aug. 31, 1887, $37,- 
165.34. 

May 31, 1888 , $ 45,642.92 

August I, 1888 81,666.67 

September i, 1888 86,094.10 

January i, 1889 103,588.56 

February 28, 1889 105,008.46 

January 31, 1890 116,716.43 

A considerable amount ofi this debt was caused by 
grading the college grounds, by street improvements 



^Record B, Board of Trustees, page 12. 
2Record B, Board of Trustees, page 45. 
^''Record B, Board of Trustees, page 32. 



i64 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

on Snelling and Summit Avenues, and by other taxes. 
The only other productive fund that the college received 
aside from the synodical Memorial endowment was a 
gift of one thousand dollars by Mr. George D. Dayton 
in May, 1887. But as the income of this fund was in- 
tended "to assist worthy young men in securing an ed- 
ucation in said Macalester College" preference being 
given to "those young men who are preparing for the 
ministry in the Presbyterian church," this gift did not 
help the trustees in meeting their college's expenses. 

In 1888 the trustees accepted the Sarah E. Oliver 
bequest of "$28,420.92," together with a large amount 
of accrued interest in the form of "certain mortgages 
upon real estate in Oliver Park Addition to the city 
of Minneapolis." The donor stipulated that of this 
sum $25,000 should be used to endow, establish and 
maintain in Macalester a professorship of Mental Sci- 
ence and logic, to be known as the "Andrew and Sarah 
E. Oliver Professorship of Mental Science and Logic."^ 

The remainder of this gift was set aside for schol- 
arships to be called the Oliver Scholarships. It was 
estimated that not less than five thousand dollars would 
be left for this purpose. This deed of bequest contain- 
ed the following proviso : "And they further agree to 
use all the interest accruing from such investment or 
investments forever, for the maintenance of said pro- 
fessorship, and that the principal shall ever remain un- 
diminished and shall not be liable for the debts of the 
college." 

^Record B. Board of Trustees 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 165 

By the acceptance of the Oliver gift the trustees in- 
creased their assets by thirty-thousand dollars. This 
property was a low piece of land taxable but not rev- 
enue producing. Its value was far less than estimated 
in 1888. The notes that were turned over to the col- 
lege arising from the sale of this property were given 
by persons who had bought the lots at boom prices. 
As much of the property was not thought likely ever to 
be desirable for building sites and was steadily declin- 
ing in value, the purchasers allowed the college to fore- 
close and take the property. The college being greatly 
embarrassed for money later defaulted on the taxes, 
and to meet these the property was sold. Nov. 2(ij 
1894, five hundred dollars were offered the college for 
a deed to eighty-five lots, and on the advice of Mr. 
Charles T. Thompson, this offer was accepted.^ The 
catalogues issued after the transfer of the land to the 
school refer to the chair of Mental Science and Logic 
as endowed by Andrew and Sarah Oliver; but the 
total net receipts from the Oliver bequest did not ex- 
ceed one thousand dollars. 

While the finances of the college were in this bad 
state, A. W. Reid of Minneapolis offered twenty-five 
thousand dollars to the trustees on condition that 
twenty others give a like sum, thus securing $500,000 
for endowment. His proposition was accepted.^ But 
as the next few years won no other supporters of the 



^See Record "B," page 260. 
^Record B, page 54. 



i66 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

$500,000 endowment plan Mr. Reid withdrew his offer, 
Nov. II, 1890.1 

That the college could not continue much 
longer in this way was perfectly clear to the trustees. 
They therefore adopted a policy of retrenchment. The 
faculty was the first to feel the affects of this operation. 
June 15, 1889, the Board took up the matter of reduc- 
ing the professors' salaries. In spite of their protests 
the trustees voted on July 3, 1890, that the salaries of 
the teachers be reduced 25%. 

At the same meeting at which this action was taken 
Dr. McCurdy resigned the presidency to resume pas- 
toral work. The college had been under his adminis- 
tration for six years. It had graduated two fine classes 
of young men. It also had two valuable buildings and 
a debt which on Jan. i, 1890, amounted to $116,000. 
At this time, too, it lost the financial Secretary and 
Treasurer, Rev. G. A. McAffee. 

The resignation of Dr. McCurdy marks the end of 
the first period of Macalester's financial administration. 
Was the debt unavoidable? Could the college have 
been maintained at less cost? These are questions 
which the intelligent reader naturally asks. 

In a previous chapter it was shown that an educa- 
tional institution aiming to do superior work at the 
time that Macalester became a synodical school needed 
larger resources than were then provided for it. Un- 
less, therefore, additional endowment were secured it 
was inevitable that a debt would be incurred. When 

^Record B, page 147. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 167 

the college opened in 1885 it was expected that it would 
meet financial troubles. President McCurdy said that 
almost every college has annual deficits and Macalester 
would be no exception.^ Many were opposed to its 
establishment. In order to win the confidence of its 
constituency it must do good work, and in order to gain 
the good will of those who declared that the college 
could not be sustained it must show wise and careful 
administration in economic affairs. But in this par- 
ticular the institution did not commend itself to busi- 
ness men ; the result was that after a few years those 
who had doubted the wisdom of founding another de- 
nominational college became confirmed opponents. 
They saw that between five and seven thousand dollars 
could have been saved in providing homes for the pro- 
fessors; they disapproved the erection of the main 
building when the entire amount necessary for its com- 
pletion had not been secured; and they regarded it a 
great mistake to pay the professors such salaries as 
were drawn at Macalester. In the endeavor to build up 
a high grade college the trustees and the president plan- 
ned well, but in offering the salaries which they should 
have known they would not be able to pay they com- 
mitted a grave mistake. 

The college must depend for its financial support 
almost altogether upon the Twin Cities. This was 
certain from the beginning. Its location in the Mid- 
way district, about equal distance from the centers of 
both cities, was thought very fortunate. It was neither 

^Pioneer Press, September 17th, 1885. 



i68 MAGALESTER COLLEGE. 

a St. Paul institution, nor one that belonged to Minne- 
apolis, but on neutral ground, so belonged to both. The 
cities were intense commercial rivals, and feeling some- 
times ran very high. Then on March 3rd, 1885, the 
St. Paul and Ramsey County representatives secured 
the enactment of a statute by which so much of the 
Midway district as belongs to Ramsey county was in- 
corporated within the city limits of St. Paul. The 
trustees realized that if this measure were carried 
through it would injure Macalester College, for as soon 
as it belonged within the bounds of St. Paul, Minneapo- 
lis would look upon Macalester as a St. Paul institu- 
tion which should be maintained by St. Paul. To pre- 
vent the plan of the Ramsey County delegates from be- 
ing caried through the legislature the trustees used 
every possible means at their command. A circular 
was printed and distributed among the legislators in 
order to dissuade them from passing the proposed meas- 
use.^ The circular read : 

"At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of Macal- 
ester College, held January 24th, 1885, the following 
resolution, offered by Mr. H. L. Moss, was unani- 
mously adopted : 'Resolved, That it is the opinion of 
this Board that the extension of the city limits of St. 
Paul, so as to include Macalester College, would be 
prejudicial to the interests of the College, and they do 
most earnestly protest against any action that will in- 
clude Macalester College in the corporate limits of 
said city.' 'Resolved, That Hon. Alexander Ramsey, 
Hon. C. E. Vanderburgh and Thomas Cochrane, Jr., 
be a Committee to present the views of the Board, as 
herein expressed, to the representatives from Henne- 

^Special laws of Minnesota, 1885, page 281. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 169 

pin and Ramsey Counties, and to oppose any legisla- 
tion that will include the College property in the cor- 
porate limits of St. Paul/ 

Attest: W. M. Tenney, 

Secretary." 

The pending bill was carried, however, and the 
effect upon the college was even worse than had been 
anticipated. Minneapolis, which had contributed more 
to the synodical fund than did St. Paul, now weakened 
in its interest in Macalester. Years were required to 
restore a friendlier feeling between the two cities. It 
was all the more necessary, therefore, that the man- 
agement of the finances of the college be conducted 
so wisely and so economically as to win the confidence 
of all business men in the state. 

In October, 1889, after Mr. McAfee had, given up 
his position of financial Secretary for the college, the 
trustees decided to make a special effort to pay off the 
debt. A special fiscal agent. Dr. L. G. Hay, of Minne- 
apolis, was engaged for this work. After a three 
months' trial, during which his salary was $100 per 
month, his resignation was accepted. He had secured 
"subscriptions amounting to $205; the expenses for 
three months' salary were $300, leaving a balance due 
him of $95." 

The first undertaking to pay off the debt, therefore, 
was quite discouraging. After searching for a good 
man to undertake the difficult work of a financial agent 
for a heavily indebted college, the Board on July ii, 
1890, secured the efficient services of Rev. David E. 



170 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Platter.^ Mr. Platter had been for some years the 
successful pastor of a large and prosperous church in 
Canton, Ohio. His strenuous labors there had im- 
paired his health, and he came to the Northwest to 
recruit. He was a man of good address, of sound 
judgment, of quiet determined energy and did not fear 
the face of man, a much needed qualiiication for one in 
his new position. 

A careful examination of the financial condition oi 
the college shovv^ed that not less than one hundred and 
thirty thousand dollars should be raised to provide for 
the debt and for the current expenses while the can- 
vass was being made. To raise so large a sum of 
money, on condition that it all be paid in as soon as the 
total was subscribed, was deemed wholly impracticable. 
The only possible plan seemed to be to allow a long 
time payment. Accordingly subscriptions were to be 
taken to be paid in five annual payments, and in 
case any installment was not paid when due, it was 
to bear interest at 6% until paid. The pledges were 
not to be binding till the entire amount was secured. 
This being once reached the first payment was to be 
collected, the debt reduced to one hundred thousand 
dollars, and a blanket mortgage was to be spread on 
the college property, further secured by the unpaid 
pledges. The canvass for these pledges proceeded 
under very serious difficulties. The boom in realty 
was now beginning to abate somewhat, leaving in the 

^Record B, Board of Trustees, page ii6. 
^Record B, Board of Trustees, page 132. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 171 

hands of a vast number of people unsalable property 
heavily encumbered with mortagages and subject all 
the while to taxes and assessments. The accumula- 
tion of the stupendous debt almost before the college 
got out of its swaddling clothes terribly discredited 
the administration and cast serious doubt upon the 
possibility of establishing in Macalester an institution 
under Presbyterian control. Many, too, from whom 
help was expected saw in the situation a vindication 
of their earlier judgment that it was better for Minne- 
sota Presbyterians to leave higher education to the 
care of the state. 

Despite these untoward circumstances Mr. Platter 
pushed the canvass with patience and energy. The 
trustees were the first to give liberally. Ex-Governor 
Ramsey pledged $5,000, A. M. Reid, $5,000, and C. T. 
Thompson, W. M. Tenney, H. L. Moss, J. C. Whit- 
ney, Benjamin Wright, H. K. Taylor, with equal lib- 
erality according to their means. Other large pledges 
in St. Paul came from R. C. Jefferson, $5,000; James 
J. Hill at first pledged $5,000, later increased it to 
$10,000 and in the home stretch made it $15,000; 
Mrs. A. B. Davidson, $5,000, while Wm. B. Dean, D. R. 
Noyes, William McKibbin and others gave substantial 
help. The Board of Aid for Colleges and Academies 
promised $5,000 and Mrs. William Thaw, with whom 
Dr. Wallace had become acquainted while a professor 
at Wooster, also pledged $5,000 in answer to a letter 
he wrote to her. After a successful canvass in St. 



172 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Paul the financial secretary invaded Minneapolis with 
this appeal : 

"TO PRESBYTERIANS IN MINNEAPOLIS : 

The time has come when Macalester College is 
to be saved or lost to the Presbyterian Church. We 
wish to put before you briefly the situation : 

1. What We Have. 

1. We have 40 acres of land valued at $160,000 

2. We have buildings valued at 100,000 

3. We have endowments of 80,000 

4. Furniture, Apparatus, Library and other 
values 15,000 

Total present value $355,ooo 

5. The Dr. Rice bequest, available as soon as 

debt is paid $ 40,000 

6. We have knowledge of four wills of living 
persons in which the College is remem- 
bered to the amount of 100,000 

Prospective value $495,000 

Say in round numbers, half a million ! 

2. What We Owe. 

1. We owe mortgage notes $ 55,ooo 

2. We owe notes in bank 41,000 

3. We owe other notes and debts 35,ooo 

Total of debts $131,000 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 173 

Total of subscription to debt to date 7S>^^^ 

Yet to be subscribed $ 56,000 

Present assets over liabilities $224,000 

Prospective assets over liabilities 364,000 

3. What We Are Trying To Do. 

We are bending every energy to pay off the debt. 
We are trying to raise $80,000 in St. Paul, $50,000 in 
Minneapolis, and $20,000 outside these cities. We are 
taking subscriptions, payable in five equal annual in- 
stallments, without interest, with the privilege of carry- 
ing the subscription at 6 per cent for a longer time, if 
the subscriber prefers not to pay when it becomes due. 
No subscription is binding unless $125,000 is sub- 
scribed. St. Paul has subscribed $70,000 of the $80,- 
000 expected from her, and the other $10,000 we are 
sanguine of obtaining soon. We can say confidently 
that the subscription will not fail for lack of that 
$10,000. Nothing has yet been subscribed in Minne- 
apolis. The work is just beginning in this city. At 
a meeting of the pastors of Minneapolis recently this 
resolution was passed : "Resolved, that we are in favor 
of raising $40,000 in Minneapolis to save Macalester 
College, and we will lend our harty endeavors to this 
end." 

4. The Peril. 

The College is in imminent danger of being lost to 
the Church. The trustees cannot longer bear the dou- 
ble burden of the debt, and the current expenses. They 



174 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

have given their personal credit as far as they will. If 
the friends of the College do not come to their help, 
they will be compelled to close the doors in June, anr! 
sell the property to pay the debt. This is not a threat. 
It is the unpleasant truth. This debt must be provided 
for, or our effort to establish a Presbyterian College 
v/ill end in ignominious failure. 

5. What We Will Lose. 

We will lose a College plant splendidly located, and 
within the near future, half a million dollars. We will 
lose ground as a Presbyterian Church. We will lose 
prestige. We will lose honor. We will lose a splen- 
did opportunity to take our proper place as a denomi- 
nation among the educators of the Northwest. We will 
lose half a million dollars, that may be saved to the 
cause of higher Christian education. We now have a 
total of $75,000 subscribed; $50,000 more will make 
the subscription binding and save the College. We 
do not believe that the Presbyterians of Minneapolis 
will do other than the full measure of their duty in 
this crisis. The fate of the College rests with you. 
Your loyal response to its needs now will save it and 
place it on a solid and; enduring foundation. 

In behalf of the College, 

David E. Platter, 
Treasurer. 

February 19th, 1891. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. I75 

J. C. Whitney, S. A. Harris, 

David Jas. Burrell, Wm. M. Tenney, 

A. M. Reid, Chas. T. Thompson, 

Trustees of College residing in Minneapolis." 
By June, 1891, the financial situation of the college 
had become so stringent that some of its best friends 
advised closing Macalester's doors until such funds 
as were indispensable for the existence of the college 
had been secured. In the Board of Trustees, on June 
2nd, 1 89 1, Trustee R. P. Lewis, introduced the follow- 
ing resolution : "Whereas the indebtedness of Macal- 
ester College amounts to the sum of $125,000, which 
has in the main been incurred in the erection of neces- 
sary buildings, although a large part has come from 
the current expenses being larger than the sources of 
income, viz. : interest from endowments, and volun- 
tary subscriptions, And W^hereas, the trustees in con- 
nection with the very efficient Treasurer of the Col- 
lege, Rev. David E. Platter, have given all their effort 
for the last year and a half towards getting a subscrip- 
tion sufficient to liquidate the debt, conditioned that at 
least $125,000 should be subscribed, which subscrip- 
tion now amounts to only $90,000 ; And Whereas the 
current expenses for the coming year, including the in- 
terest on the debt, with the greatest economy will 
amount to $18,000, which amount would have to be 
secured by voluntary contributions, which the Board 
does not think could be secured in the present finan- 
cial depression and because of the discouragement oc- 
casioned by the large debt. Therefore, Resolved that 



176 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

it is necessary to suspend the college work until such 
time as the funds of the College and the interest of the 
Presbyterian Church will warrant us in opening the 
school again, and that such suspension of the College 
work shall take effect after commencement, on the 17th 
instant, unless the said subscription to liquidate the debt 
shall amount to the sum of $125,000 by that date."^ 

After discussing this motion it was laid on the table 
until the next meeting. Meanwhile herculean efforts 
were made to secure that $125,000 in order to prevent 
the college from being closed for an indefinite period, 
and one day before commencement the necessary sub- 
scriptions had been pledged. This was a cause for 
great rejoicing for the friends of the college. The 
Presbyterian Ministers' Association of St. Paul sent a 
letter to the Trustees congratulating them upon the 
success of their effort. 

After a strenuous effort the pledges were brought 
up to about $112,000. At this point it looked for a 
time as if success were hopeless. But there were more 
prayers, more planning and more consecration. In this 
stress Judge Vanderburgh, who had been somewhat 
disaffected toward the administration, made his pledge 
$5,300 in well secured notes, Mr. J. J. Hill raised his 
pledge to $15,000, and by June ist, 1891, the long wish- 
ed for goal was reached. Mr. Platter had rendered 
heroic service and deserves the lasting gratitude of the 

iRecord "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, pp. 163-3. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 177 

friends of the college. Few men could have achieved so 
much. During this canvas Dr. Wallace and Thomas 
Cochian gave special assistance to the financial secre- 
tary. At the June commencement in 1891 there was 
great rejoicing, and among the students the college 
cheers and songs rang loud and long. This joy was 
shared by all the friends of the college. July 7th, 1891, 
the Board received a leter from the Presbyterian Min- 
isters' Association of St. Paul congratulating them.^ 
When the secretary proceeded to collect the first instal- 
ment he was surprised to find that some subscribers of- 
fered to pay at once the entire amount pledged, among 
these was, notably, R. C. Jefferson. With the sums 
thus collected miscellaneous debts were paid off and the 
total indebtedness reduced to $100,000. By means of 
the pledges, backed by the blanket mortgage covering 
the entire campus of forty acres, the reduced indebted- 
ness was funded through the St. Paul Trust Co., at 
six per cent, the bonds being sold at their face value 
mainly to men of wealth in the east.^ Fifteen thousand 
dollars, however, were invested in the bonds by the 
Episcopal Diocese of St. Paul. 

The financial condition of the college had been 
greatly improved; yet how great were the problems 
that were still to confront It no one had clearly fore- 
seen. There was still the old question of providing the 
means to defray the current expenses. To do this 
Macalester must look to a constituency whose liberality 

iRecord "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 165. 
2Record "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 168. 



178 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

had been sorely taxed by appeals for the debt. To se- 
cure such contributions from men who still owed 
pledges covering the four following years was solemn 
business. 

On a preceding page reference has been made to a 
conditional gift by Dr. Rice toward the endowment of 
the college. In order to secure it the debt must be paid 
or provided for. When in June 1891 the executors 
of Dr. Rice's will were satisfied that this had been done 
they submitted a proposition to the Board by which it 
would receive certain property valued at $37,170 on 
condition that the trustees pay to the heirs $1,670 cash 
and assume the first mortgage of $10,500 on the thirty 
acres of this estate, and also give proper guarantee that 
the debt on the college would be fully paid. Dr. Rice's 
will provided for the endowment of the Bible Chair 
in the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, but also 
stipulated that to facilitate the settlement of the estate 
the two colleges, Albert Lea and Macalester might have 
the option of accepting on equal terms the real proper- 
ty belonging to the Rice estate on Randoph Street and 
Fairview Avenue. 

Partly to accommodate Mrs. Rice, who was far ad- 
vanced in years and desired to settle up the estate, and 
partly from the conviction that the real estate more 
than covered in value the endowment named in the will 
both colleges accepted the term^s of the bequest. At 
prices of real estate then current the decision was wise 
enough, but owing to the heavy subsequent decline of 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 179 

values it proved a bad one and involved the college in 
great embarrassment. 

Dr. Rice had considered this property a splendid 
investment and the Board believed that it would real- 
ize fully forty thousand dollars from the sale of the 
thirty acres. But the acceptance of this gift involved 
the Board in a new debt. If the Oliver endowment 
proved a great disappointment it was equally true of 
the Rice endowment. Several years must elapse, how- 
ever, before this became- apparent. Meanwhile the 
Board plunged itself into still greater difficulties. 

The treasurer's report for April, 1892, contains 
these statements of indebtedness : 

Old debt bonds for five years at 6% $100,000.00 

Ramsey Co., Savings Bank, 8% 2,000.00 

Wm. M. Tenney 8% 600.00 

$102,600.00 

Due the Baldwin Endowment $ 15,707.04 

Due the Synod Endowment 12,036.59 

Total $ 27,143.63 

No interest is paid on this part of our debt and it 
gives us no trouble. It must be replaced, however, as 
soon as the funds are available. This made th^ tora! 
debt previous to September i, 1891, $129,743.63. 

In taking the Rice property willed to Macalester 
and by assuming the mortgages upon it the trustees 
added twelve thousand, one hundred and seventy dol- 
lars to the debt. This sum and the shortage on the 



i8o MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

current expenses of the year brought the total indebted- 
ness up to one hundred and fifty-nine thousand, seven 
hundred and fifty-one dollars and thirteen cents. It 
must be borne in mind that subscriptions amounting to 
$100,000 were outstanding and that the Macalester Col- 
lege Addition was rated as worth between $40,000 and 
$45,000. But the College did not have these values in 
cash or cash securities. Above all things the school 
should have delivered itself of the debt. And as the 
college was not exempt from tax on its property ex- 
cepting as much of the campus as was needed for play- 
grounds, all taxable property was liable to become bur- 
densome. But the real estate boom was on. Lots in 
all parts of the city sold for fabulous prices. To pur- 
chase a bit of land, hold for a few days and then sell 
it at a great profit became a passion in those days of 
frenzied finance. Dr. Rice had remembered Albert Lea 
by bequeathing it a tract of land amounting to thirty- 
three and four-tenths acres. This joined the Macal- 
ester College Addition. April 5th, 1892, R. P. Lewis 
informed the Board that he had offered to Albert Lea 
College the sum of $40,000 for the Albert Lea Addi- 
tion. There were present at that meeting of the Board 
Whitney, Lewis, Wright, Moss, Taylor, Robbins, 
Thompson and Tenney, trustees, and Dean Wallace and 
Treasurer Platter, Trustee Cochran being absent. After 
a prolonged discussion the trustees authorized Mr, 
Lewis to purchase the Albert Lea Addition and directed 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. i8i 

the treasurer to secure it by mortgages aggregating 
$38,000 and $2,000 in cash.^ 

Mr. Cochran did not enter a formal protest against 
this act.on on the minutes of the Board but later ex- 
pressed himself to the dean as strongly opposed to it. 
The debt of the college had now increased to $199,- 
751.13. The inflated increase in the value of real es- 
tate may be seen from the College treasurer's report of 
its assets. In 1888 the 40 acres of the campus was 
valued at $80,000; in 1890 at $100,000; in 1891 at 
$160,000 ; in 1893 at $200,000. If the boom would con- 
tinue and if the general prosperity that the country 
had experienced since 1885 would not be interrupted 
all was well. But if a change for the worse should 
come in the financial world, the late transaction of the 
trustees might be the ruin of Macalester. 

For two years able writers on financial matters had 
directed the public attention to a decrease in the column 
of bank clearings and net railway earnings. On the 
one hand the output or iron, wheat and cotton was ex- 
cessive, on the other hand the prices of these commodi- 
ties was extremely low. 

Abroad commercial activities had decreased and fi- 
nancial depression was great. In the United States 
the currency was unsound. Since the passage of the 
Sherman Act, July 4, 1890, which called for the issue 
of an indefinite amount of legal-tender notes for silver 
bullion and made the notes redeemable in either gold 
or silver, putting the two metals on a parity — the 

^Record "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 194. 



i82 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

stability of the currency had in the judgment of many 
become uncertain. The result was an extremely large 
output of greenbacks and treasury-notes. The Euro- 
pean countries had adopted the gold standard ; in pay- 
ment for foreign commodities it was necessary to 
export American gold. In proportion as this scarcity 
of gold increased at home the condition of the finan- 
cial world grew worse. In the summer of 1892 the 
United States Treasury suffered a heavy drain on its 
gold reserve to redeem outstanding notes. Soon the 
import of gold and the export of goods ceased. By 
March, 1893, the national financial condition was ex- 
ceedingly bad. Legal tenders depreciated rapidly, and 
when the bankers withdrew them from circulation the 
panic had begun. Depositors withdrew their money 
from the banks and forced many banks to suspend. 
The west and northwest were almost overwhelmed by 
this financial crash. Out of one hundred and fifty- 
eight national bank failures for that year, one hundred 
and fifty-three were in the west and south. No fewer 
than thirteen banks, national, state or private, in the 
Twin Cities went down during the years '93-'97- 
(Note : The panic did not fully abate till the end of '97.) 
*'No such financial wreck had fallen on the West since 
it became a factor in the financial world."^ 

, The panic of 1893 was a great calamity for Macal- 
ester. If the most prosperous years had almost wit- 



iNoyes, Ten Years of American Finance, page 193. 
White, Money and Banking, page 183-208. 
Forum, Vol. XXVL, page 22. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 183 

nessed its ruin how could it survive the financial crash 
under which strong commercial institutions went to the 
wall ? With a net debt of about $30,000, and further 
obligations of more than $69,000 on real estate, whose 
value depreciated to such an extent that it was unsal- 
able, what else than ruin could be expected ? 

But in this crisis Macalester demonstrated its vital- 
ity and proved its right to exist. If a former adminis- 
tration failed to meet current expenses in a period of 
wonderful prosperity, another adiministration managed 
the financial college affairs in such a way that the insti- 
tution survived, and during the stringency foil wing the 
crisis, liquidated the debt. How victory came out of 
apparent defeat we shall learn from the third period of 
Macalester's financial history. 

The first result of the business prostration was that 
the outlook for the college became so dismal that the 
trustees seriously considered the question of closing 
its doors, thus giving up the struggle for existence. 
Dr. Ringland was president of the college. The pro- 
fessors were away on their vacation, Dr. Wallace hap- 
pened to be in Chicago, attending the Columbian Expo- 
sition, when he learned what action probably would be 
taken by the Board. At once he gave up his visit and 
returned to St. Paul to use his influence to prevent 
such action. After long deliberation the trustees voted 
on Sept 8th, "that the college be opened on Sept. 20th, 
with the understanding that it be kept open only as long 
as funds shall be provided for its current support."^ 



^Record "B," Minutes of the Trustees, page 232. 



i84 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Before opening for the fall term the president had plan- 
ned, in the interests of economy^ first to drop one pro- 
fessor and then another. But as such action would 
have added more work to the remaining overburdened 
professors, and as the returning students vigorously 
protested against any weakening of the faculty, the 
president was obliged to abandon that policy. 

On the opening day an unexpectedly large number 
of students had come to college. Their loyalty was 
heartening. Dr. Ringland, however, had made no 
preparation for the formal opening of the school year. 
A few of the Presbyterian clergy from Minneapolis and 
St. Paul were present and upon several of these the 
president called for impromptu addresses. The exer- 
cises of that day were more like a funeral than the 
usual greeting extended to a happy band of students 
who had returned for another year. During the year 
the clouds grew blacker and more threatening. If the 
resolution of September 8th had been lived up to the 
college would have been closed before Christmas. But 
though money was lacking and salaries were unpaid, 
patience and courage were not yet exhausted. Current 
expenses, taxes and assessments continued to pile up. 
Impatient creditors were clamoring for their money; 
suits were pending and bondholders were threatening 
foreclosure. Much of the taxable property of the 
college had been sold for taxes and the time of impos- 
sible redemption was drawing on. Some of the real 
estate in St. Paul and Minneapolis had been turned over 
to the professors in lieu of salary. The time had come 




Mrs. William Thaw. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 185 

when the total loss of the college and its property 
seemed inevitable. Dr. Ringland had made a faithful 
effort to raise money in the East but had failed. Suc- 
cess there at that time was almost, if not altogether, im- 
possible. In this extremity and as a last resort, appeal 
was again made to Mrs. Thaw of Pittsburgh. For 
years before his death Mr. William Thaw had been 
widely known for his liberal support of Christian edu- 
cation. Mrs. Thaw fully shared her husband's interest 
and after his death continued his work of philanthropy. 
Her home has been a kind of Mecca for the presidents 
of Western Presbyterian Colleges, and many are those 
who have been sent on their way with lighter hearts 
and new hope by her intelligent liberality. 

In February, 1894, Dr. Wallace corresponded with 
Mrs. Thaw and asked her if, in view of the gravity of 
the situation at Macalester, she would be willing to 
purchase ten acres of the campus or some of the Rice 
property if she did not deem it wise to contribute out- 
right. That letter was answered promptly and brought 
hope to the discouraged trustees. A special meeting 
of the Board was called March 2, 1894, at which it 
was voted that "the south ten acres of the college cam- 
pus be sold to Mrs. Thaw for not less than twenty-five 
thousand dollars," and that "Prof. Wallace be request- 
ed to go to Pittsburgh at once and confer with Mrs. 
Thaw."i Accordingly Dr. Wallace hurried to Pitts- 
burgh. After a very pleasant interview Mrs. Thaw 
agreed to the purchase, fifteen thousand dollars to be 

iRecord "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, p. 244. 



i86 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

paid down, and five thousand a year for the next years 
until ail v/as paid. But later, at the request of Mr. 
Cochran, who met her at New York, she consented to 
pay the entire amount in cash. With this money, ten 
thousand dollars' worth of bonds were redeemed, the 
accrued interest on all bonds paid up, taxes and as- 
sessments aggregating five thousand dollars were can- 
celed, as also a large number of pressing miscellaneous 
bills. Had it not been for this timely and generous aid, 
it is safe to say, Macalester College would have been 
forced to close its doors in June, 1894, its property 
would have passed into the hands of creditors and the 
institution would have remained but a bitter and pain- 
ful memory. 

To complete the record of Mrs. Thaw's benefactions 
to Macalester it should be added that in 1895 her son 
Edward bought one block in the Macalester College 
Addition on Randolph Street for seven thousand, eight 
hundred dollars, that she bought two more blocks 
in the same addition for eight thousand dollars, and 
that, finally, after paying taxes and other expenses 
on this property for about ten years she and her son 
Edward deeded these twenty-five acres back to the 
college free of all taxes or other burdens. If we add 
to these figures cited above her original contribution 
of five thousand dollars it will be seen that Mrs. Thaw 
and her son have given to this institution a total of 
forty-five thousand and eight hundred dollars. 

This liberality sprang from Mrs. Thaw's loyalty to 
the Presbyterian Church, her interest in Christian 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 187 

education and her deep conviction of the need of a 
Presbyterian College in the great state of Minnesota. 
Up to 1897 this estimable lady was the one conspicuous 
and munificient supporter of the college. A friend 
in need is a friend indeed. 

During the stringency which followed the panic 
Macalester had another good- friend in Mr. James 
J. Hill. Dr. Wallace had accepted the office 
of Acting-President in 1894, In his effort 
to save the institution he appealed to this distinguished 
builder of the Northwest. Mr. Hill in appreciation of 
Dr. Wallace's scholarship and selfsacrifice for a number 
of years paid his salary and gave additional help and 
ultimately, when the debt was being cleared away, do- 
nated ten thousand dollars toward that object. 

Much against his will Dr. Wallace was pressed 
into the chief executive office of the college in 1894. 
The trustees had asked the Synod to nominate someone 
for the presidency and by unanimous vote the synod 
had expressed its confidence in Dr. Wallace as the man 
for the position. It was thought that in view of the 
gravity of the situation it would be tactful to' give the 
Synod the privilege of exercising the privilege accord- 
ed it when Macalester was made a synodical college — 
namely that of nominating the president. 

In the following June the nomination was cordially 
confirmed by the Board. Greatly encouraged by the 
students and urged by his colleagues in the faculty who 
were his devoted friends, Dr. Wallace was persuaded 
to accept the leadership of the college at this critical 



i88 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

time. It is probable that if he had not yielded to their 
wishes many of the faculty and a large number of the 
students would have i^^t the institution. He entered 
upon the exceedingly difficult task with the earnest de- 
termination to do his whole duty. He believed that 
the church needed such an institution. He knew that 
the work called for great self-denial ; but from this he 
did not shrink. 

From the time that he came to Macalester in 1886 
all the students whom he taught were greatly attached 
to him ; ne was warm, affectionate and cordial in man- 
ner; he had a sincere interest in the welfare of every 
student and all felt that they could at any time go to 
him for advice and help. Their repeated expressions 
of loyalty to the college encouraged him. As in college, 
so in the synod, his friends grew in numbers among 
the ministers and among the laity as they became bet- 
ter acquainted with him. Many things were now done 
for the college for his sake, as Dr. Edwards remarked 
to the writer ''it was the personal esteem of Dr. Wal- 
lace that led many to contribute to the college." Not 
a few admired his perseverence and faith yet had no 
expectation that his hope ever would be realized. Mr. 
George D. Dayton, however, was a notable exception. 
When asked to contribute to the current expenses he 
did so cheerfully and liberally; equally ready was he 
to aid in the endeavor to pay off the old debt and when 
he was invited to become a member of the Board of 
Trustees he consented to serve. Since his connection 
with the Board in 1894 he has rendered most valuable 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 189 

service as counsellor and contributor. In point of 
service he is the oldest member of the present Trustees. 
As time went on Dr. Wallace felt that the we'gnt of 
the burden was almost crushing him. June i6th, 1896, 
he said in his report to the trustees^ : "I cannot but 
think that I would be abundantly justified in resigning 
my position and in abandoning the college. Its condi- 
tion in these three or four years past have seriously 
crippled me financially, is largely to blame for my sepa- 
ration from my family, has made my progress in my 
professional work impossible, has imperiled my reputa- 
tion and has so taxed my energies and burdened my 
mind that it has required great care to prevent a ner- 
vous breakdown. It need not be thought strange, 
therefore, that I am anxious to resign and leave this 
institution." But the real spirit of the man expressed 
itself in another part of this report : "As matters stand, 
however, no man iii his senses could accept the presi- 
dency of the college. After much prayerful considera- 
tion I have decided to make the following ofifer and 
recommendation. For the sake of the College, which 
once out of debt, I believe, would have a prosperous 
and useful career, for the sake and help of the brethren 
who are endorsers of the Colleg-e paper and to save the 
Presbyterian Church from the disgrace of the failure 
of the college I consent, i, to remain in my present posi- 
tion (acting president), for a little lonsfer; 2, to reduce 
mv salary for the present year or while I am connected* 
with the college from $1,500 to $1,200; 3, to subscribe 

^Record "C," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 10. 



190 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

40% of $1,500 of what the College owes me. (Dr. 
Wallace was called on a salary of $2,000 and house.) 
I do this on condition, i, that the Board shall secure 
pledges to my salary of not less than $1,000 and 2, that 
a well organized effort be made to raise the floating 
debt."i 

At that time notes were dite the college amounting 
to $75,000, which it was unable to collect and the real 
estate for which it had paid $52,467 had not only de- 
preciated in value but was unsalable at any price and 
the income of the college had "fallen off more than 
one-half." To stand by the college in such discourag- 
ing days was, in the opinion of many, absolutely use- 
less. Yet not only did he not leave the institution, 
but consented to be one of the committee to "raise 
$50,000 for the college."^ 

During this critical period Rev. John Pringle, the 
financial Secretary, Thomas Dickson, Thomas Coch- 
ran and Dr. Wallace canvassed the state and made 
special appeals to the Presbyterians of the Twin Cities 
and to friends of Christian Education in the East. 

Through their efforts the $100,000 bonds held 
against the college by the St. Paul Trust Co., were re- 
duced to $50,000. But in the spring of 1897 the Trust 
Co. applied to the courts for authority to sue on notes 
it held as collateral security and that a receiver be ap- 
pointed to hold these notes. The court refused to 
grant the authority. But somehow the impression went 



^Record "C," Minutes of the Trustees, page 9. 
^Record "C," Minutes of the Board, page 21. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 191 

out through the newspapers that the college had gone 
into the hands of receivers. This erroneous report, 
however, had a good effect. Among the Presbyterians 
who read this account was Professor Thomas Shaw 
of the Agricultural School in the State University. At 
once he came out to the college to look over the situa- 
tion. When he had informed himself on the state of 
affairs he concluded that Macalester's condition was not 
hopeless. Realizing that the institution was necessary 
for the church he offered his services to the trustees 
and has ever since been an enthusiastic advocate of 
the college. In a series of eight articles which he con- 
tributed to the North and West he sought to arouse a 
deeper interest in the college among the Presbyterians 
of Minnesota. The trustees soon realized that Prof. 
Shaw v/as a host in himself and requested him to ac- 
cept a position on their Board. To this he consented 
and was elected Dec. 23, 1898,1 and once officially con- 
nected with the college his influence in the management 
of its affairs was telling. 

The efforts of the trustees to save the college were 
beginning to shov/ encouraging results. They had at 
last in particular, vv^on the co-operation of several 
prominent business men of St. Paul and Minneapolis. 
At an informal meeting held in the home of Mr. Wm. 
W. B. Dean of St. Paul, sometime in the winter of 
1897-8, the problems of the college were thoroughly 
discussed. Among those present at that memorable 

^Record "C," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 40. 



192 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

gathering were W. B. Dean, R. C. Jefferson, R. A. 
Kirk, D. R. Noyes, J. C. Cooper, H. K. Taylor and 
Dr. Wallace. 

The condition of the college finances were fully pre- 
sented with a view of determining what, if anything, 
could be done. These business men were a unit in 
thinking that the facts should be laid before the cred- 
itors and that they be urged to assist in reducing the 
debt, and that as much money should bd" raised as pos- 
sible. This plan was carried out. 

For the moral effect Dr. Wallace began the appeal 
to the creditors with himself and the professors. He 
pledged what the college owed him, amounting to about 
two years' salary. Professor Anderson and Dr. Davis 
remitted about one year's salary each, and Dr. Down- 
ing reduced the amount due him with much liberality. 
Other friends and creditors of the college responded 
cordially, including the bond holders, especially the 
Episcopal Diocese of St. Paul. Thus on the creditors' 
side the debt was materially reduced. 

At the request of the Board Dr. John Paul Egbert, 
pastor of the House of Hope, St. Paul, and Dr. Pleas- 
ant Hunter, pastor of the Westminster Church, Min- 
neapolis, went to Chicago to appeal to the Board of 
Aid for Colleges and Academies for fifteen thousand 
dollars. In this effort they had the hearty support of 
Dr. Herrick Johnson, the founder of that Board. 
After a time the amount was pledged on condition that 
the entire debt be liquidated. 

On the earnest soHcitation of Mr. Thomas H. Dick- 




Mr. Thomas H. Dickson. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. 193 

son, then president of the Board of Trustees, Mr. James 
J. Hill increased his former pledge of ten thousand dol- 
lars to eighteen and later to twenty thousand dollars. 
Messrs. Kirk, Jefferson, Weyerhaeuser, Dayton, Dun- 
woody and Janney gave from three to five thousand 
each. Mr. Cyrus McCormick of Chicago, one thou- 
sand; Miss Willard of Auburn, N. Y., one thousand 
dollars; Dr. Wallace and Thomas Cochran secured 
between four and five thousand dollars from persons 
in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York. Messrs. 
W. B. Dean, D. R. Noyes, Charles H. Bigelow, William 
McKibbin, Judge Thomas Wilson, J. W. Carpenter, 
A. B. Davidson, Professor Thomas Shaw, George H. 
Wishard, A. R. Chace and others contributed liberally. 
Of the men who first formulated the plan for liquidat- 
ing the debt at the residence of Mr. W. B. Dean, the 
following were organized into a financial committee, 
working outside of the Board of Trustees: R. A. 
Kirk, chairman, R. C. Jefferson, W. R. Dean, George 
D. Dayton, Thomas R. Janney and William H. Dun- 
woody. To the chairman of this committee and to the 
hearty co-operation of R. C. Jefferson is due much of 
the success achieved. Into the hands of this committee 
was put a list of all the old creditors, and to them all 
pledges were paid. In this way the work of liquidat- 
ing the debt was speedily and ably carried on to com- 
pletion. 

Meantime the Albert Lea Board of Trustees gener- 
ously consented to settle its claims against the college 
by taking back certain blocks of the real estate it had 



194 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

sold to the college through R. P. Lewis,^ Mrs. M. L. 
Marvin, the only surviving child of Dr. and Mrs. 
Rice, with remarkable generosity accepted a few blocks 
of the Macalester College Addition in lieu of what the 
college owed her.^ 

In this way the entire debt was lifted. In the ne- 
gotiations attending the settlement of the debts of the 
college the extra financial committee had the able as- 
sistance of Attorney B. H. Schriber, who gave his 
time and legal service without charge. 

During the years in which the effort to liquidate 
the debt was uppermost with the trustees, special help 
towards meeting the current expenses came from "The 
Woman's Auxiliary of Macalester college." This socie- 
ty was organized Jan. 14, 1896. Its object was two-fold; 
I, To spread information concerning the college and 
arouse interest for the college among the Presbyterians 
of the Northwest. 2, To raise money for the current 
expenses of "The Elms" or the "Ladies' Hall." After 
Mrs. Julia Johnson was made a professor in the college 
a part of the work of the club was to aid in securing 
her salary as Dean of the Woman's Department. For 
the fee of one dollar per year any woman could become 
a member of this organization, and the payment of ten 
dollars entitled any man to honorary membership. 

The first officers of the Auxiliary were : President, 
Mrs. C. S. Morgan, of the House of Hope ; Treasurer, 

iSee Record "C," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 
70-1. 

2See Record "C," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 
70. 




Mr. Bishop H. Schriber. 



DEBT AND LIQUIDATION. I95 

Mrs. C. E. Secor; and Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. 
E. C. Downing. Mrs. E. A. Brush was for several years 
president of the Auxiliary and an enthusiastic leader. 
Through this organization much was done in improv- 
ing the accommodations of young women at the 
*'Elms." The members advertised the College and 
brought its needs to the attention of the women of their 
respective churches. They also rendered important 
aid in providing for the management of the Ladies* 
Hall and the salary of Mrs. Julia M. Johnson. The 
Auxihary existed for four years, during which it ren- 
dered very opportune service. Its financial contribu- 
tions alone amounted to $2,495.39. 

At the annual meeting of the Board, June 5th, 1900, 
when only a few^ matters incident to the settlement of 
the debt remained, the time had come for the reorgani- 
zation of the Board of Trustees. Mr. C. T. Thomp- 
son, chairman of the committee for nomination of 
trustees to fill the vacancies of those whose terms had 
expired moved that all who had been members of the 
old Board decline re-election and that the management 
of the college be entrusted to new men who had not 
been connected officially with the former administra- 
tion. By this action all members of the old Board re- 
signed, excepting Henry M. Moss, who by special re- 
quest was asked to retain his place. The new members 
were Rev. F. W. Eraser, J. C. Faries, R. A. Kirk, R. 

See the Report of the Woman's Auxiliary of Mac called 
1896-1900, and the "Echo" for April 12, 1897, page 5- Echo 
Jan. 1886. 



196 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

C. Jefferson, W. H. Dunwoody, Rev. C. T. Burnley, 
Rev. R. N. Adams, Rev. Murdock McLeod, J. P. 
Gordan, Dr. A. B. Meldrum. 



CHAPTER X. 



From 1890 to 1900. 



In the second period of Macalester's history, from 
1890-1900, the college witnessed many changes. The 
first of these was in the personnel of the faculty. Pres- 
ident McCurdy and Dr. Kirkwood severed their con- 
nection with the institution in 1890. On April 24th, 
1891, Professor Pearson resigned in order to 
accept the agency in Ohio for Ginn & Co., 
schoolbook publishers.! On May 5th the trustees elect- 
ed Edward C. Downing, of Toulon Academy, 111., to 
the chair of Latin Language and Literature, left va- 
cant by the resignation of Professor Pearson. At the 
same meeting the office of Dean of the Faculty was 
created, and Dr. James Wallace was elected to this 
position. The duties of the office were defined thus: 
"to exercise the functions of the president in his ab- 
sence."2 In August, 1891, Samuel M. Kirkwood, 
M. D., '89, was engaged as instructor in Natural 
Sciences in place of Dr. Forbes. During the course 
of the winter. Dr. Samuel Kirkwood resigned and was 
succeeded by his brother, William P. Kirkwood, ^90. 
At the regular meeting of the Board, Sept. ist, 1891, 
Andrew W. Anderson of Bellaire, Ohio, was appoint- 

iMinutes of the Faculty, Book i, page 254. 

2Record "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page lOO. 

sRecord "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 173. 



198 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

ed instructor in English, Psychology and Logic,^ and 
at the October meeting, Rev. George W. Davis, Ph. 
D., of New Preston, Connecticut, was elected Acting 
Professor of Biblical History and Literature, to begin 
his work by Feb. ist, 1892.2 

Professor Downing is an Ohioan by birth, a gradu- 
ate of Wooster University, class of 1885. From the 
same institution he received the degree of Doctor of 
Philosophy magna cum laude, in 1903. He is a man 
of poetic temperament, a facile writer of verse, and 
commands a style that is dignified and elegant. He 
is a professor of scholarly attainments and thoroughly 
at home in the classical languages. Since 1892 he has 
been at the head of the growing department of Latin 
Language and Literature. For several years he was 
principal of the Academy. No man has been more 
kind and affable, and more helpful to students and col- 
leagues than Dr. Downing. 

Professor Anderson, like Dr. Downing, is an alum- 
nus of Wooster. He took first honors in his class in 
1889, and is known as a scholar of critical and exact 
knowledge. As a teacher he is just and conscientious, 
possessing in a remarkable degree the ability to interest 
students in hard work. The subjects of which he is 
fondest are philosophy and pedagogy. He has al- 
ways been a popular teacher. Since 1906 he has been 
the Dean of the college. 

Dr. Davis was born in England, studied at Vic- 

iRecord "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 175. 
2Record "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 185. 




Rev. a. W. Ringland, D. D. 
President, 1892-1894. 



MACALESTER FROM 1890-1900. 199 

toria University, Manchester, graduating in 1882. He 
completed his theological training at Auburn Seminary, 
N. Y., in 1886, and obtained the degree of Doctor of 
Philosophy from Yale in 1890. He is a man of ex- 
tensive scholarship, versatile in his gifts and an en- 
thusiastic teacher. Dr. Davis is also a fine conversa- 
tionalist, social in disposition, and an able preacher. 

There was now only one member of the original 
faculty left, Dr. Neill. Upon the new professors, 
therefore, fell a large part of the task of saving the 
college. Salaries in 1892, were far below those paid 
in 1885, and were not even paid regularly or in full. 
Still these faculty members stood loyally by the col- 
lege and in its darkest days were ever hopeful that 
Macalester would soon come to its own. 

The year 1892 is memorable for two important 
events. First, the erection of Edwards Hall; second, 
the election of Rev. A. W. Ringland, D. D., to the 
presidency. 

The building of Edwards Hall came about in an 
unexpected way. In May, 1892, while Mr. and Mrs. 
W. C. Edwards were making a social call at the home 
of Dr. Wallace, Mr. Edwards casually remarked that 
he was supporting two young men in Park College. 
He explained that his reason for helping Park College 
in this way was that there a dollar was made to go 
further than at any other college of which he had 
knowledge, and that the students there were of a class 
that specially needed help. 

After the visitors had returned to their home it 



200 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

occurred to Dr. Wallace that perhaps Mr. Edwards 
could be interested in making some provision by which 
students of limited means might be enabled to reduce 
to a minimum the expenses of a college education at 
Macalester. To many young men the expense of 
board and room in the dormitory, even though very 
moderate, offered a serious problem. There were then 
only a few houses in Macalester Park, so that the 
organization of a club was impossible for lack of quar- 
ters. A plain frame structure in which a student 
club might be conducted would be a valuable addition 
to the college plant. Accordingly, Dr. Wallace pre- 
sented this need to Mr. Edwards and asked him to 
assist in the erection of such a building, suggesting 
that he, being a lumber dealer, contribute a part of 
the lumber. 

Mr. Edwards not only assented to this proposition 
but offered to present the matter to one or two other 
lumbermen with a view of securing their co-opera- 
tion. When the plans for the building were submit- 
ted to him and approved, he employed an architect 
to draw up the specifications. Mr. Frederick Weyer- 
haeuser agreed to furnish one-third of the lumber 
needed ; Mr. R . A. Kirk pledged his firm for the hard- 
ware; the stones for the foundation were given, and 
the bill for plastering was also reduced to a low figure. 
The students cheerfully donated their services, work- 
ing in relays under the direction of a carpenter, and 
by Jan. ist, 1893, the building was completed. 

From the opening of the school in September until 





Br^^^^BB 


^^HHIi^^^Bb 












■1 




fi'-ft,.^'' 


iHM 






■ 



Mr. W. C. Edwards. 



MACALESTER FROM 1890-1900. 201 

the Club could move into its new quarters it had the 
use of the President's vacant house, now occupied by 
the Eutrophian Club. Here, Mrs. Wallace for a time 
performed the duties of matron. This fact is one of 
many illustrations that might be cited of her interest 
in the students in the day of small things and is indica- 
tive of the help-one-another spirit so strong in those 
days. 

The building was named Edwards Hall, after Mr. 
Edwards. He had furnished not only most of the 
lumber, but also the funds necessary to pay the work- 
men and other items of expense. The total cost of the 
building erected on this co-operative plan, did not ex- 
ceed two thousand, eight hundred dollars. 

Edwards Hall was nearly filled the first year, and 
from the following year down to the present a clnt 
of thirty-five persons or more has been furnished with 
good rooms and board at exceptionally low rates. 
From the first the club has been self-governing. Dur- 
ing all these years it has maintained a high reputation 
for good conduct, wholesome board and careful 
economic management. Among the stewards were 
John Selhe, Hugh S. Alexander, Carl Shellman, Tol- 
bert Watson, F. S. Shimian and Albert Gammons. 

Since the resignation of Dr. McCurdy in July, 
1890, Macalester had been without a resident executive 
head. Dr. Burrell, the second president, was pastor of 
the Westminster Presbyterian Church and lived in 
Minneapolis. His pastoral duties were so engrossing 
that he had little time to attend to the details of the 



202 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

college's administration. These matters were, there- 
fore, at first entrusted to Prof. Pearson, and after he 
had severed his connection with the institution, Dr. 
Wallace was made Dean or Acting President. 

In the fall of 1891, Dr. Burrell moved to New 
York, and thereby terminated his relations with the 
college. His resignation had been in the hands of 
the trustees since September 12th, 1890, to take effect 
when a successor had been elected. Numerous candi- 
dates were considered by the trustees, but in almost 
every instance the persons mentioned were either un- 
willing or unable to perform the duties of a financial 
agent. 

From the first the Board looked for a man who 
understood the needs, not only of Macalester, but also 
of the Presbyterian Church in Minnesota. Such a 
m.an they believed would bring the institution closer 
to the churches and arouse interest in it. Actuated by 
this motive, their choice fell on Rev. A. W. Ringland 
D. D., then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church 
of Duluth, whom they called Sept. 20th, 1892.^ 

Dr. Ringland had enjoyed the best educational ad- 
vantages. A native of Pennsylvania, he was educated 
at Centre College, Danville, Kentucky, and at McCor- 
mick Theological Seminary from which he graduated 
in 1875. After serving pastorates at Dubuque and 
Tuscola, Iowa, and Bement, 111., he was called to the 
First Presbyterian Church of Duluth, Feb. 9th, 1884. 
During the nine years of his ministry in that field the 

^Record "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 242. 




Edwards Hall. 



MACALESTER FROM 1890-1900. 203 

church membership grew from 109 to 434. He also 
spurred the congregation on to erect a handsome brown 
stone church building at a cost of eighty thousand dol- 
lars. Dr. Ringland had been very successful in di- 
recting the finances of the growing church. 

The election of Dr. Ringland was received with 
general approval and enthusiasm by Macalester's con- 
stituency. Sept. 30th, 1892, the faculty had this senti- 
ment placed on record^ : "The faculty has learned 
with pleasure that the Board of Trustees has tendered 
Dr. A. W. Ringland, the presidency of this institution 
and hope that he may see his way clear to accept it." 
The student-body, too, was delighted when it received 
the news of the Board's action. There was a general 
belief among the friends of the college that an era of 
prosperity for Macalester had dawned. 

At his departure from the Zenith City the Duluth 
Herald said editorially: "The people of Duluth will 
view the departure of Rev. A. W. Ringland with con- 
flicting emotions. The regret that they experience is 
that his selection as president of Macalester College 
means his removal from this city, in which he has re- 
sided for the past nine years. At the same time they 
are pleased that his great ability has been recognized 
in such a signal manner, and that a high honor has 
been conferred upon him. The presidency of Macales- 
ter College is of far greater importance, than the pas- 
torate of any church in St. Paul or Minneapolis. The 
unanimity with which Dr. Ringland was elected tc 

^Minutes of the Faculty, Vol. 2, page 22. 



204 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

this position was another tribute to his ability and 
worth. The call was almost general that he should 
accept the presidency. The synod, both clergy and 
laity, the trustees of the college and even the students 
united in requesting him to assume the important of- 
fice. In the face of this strong feeling Dr. Ringland 
could hardly refuse to consider the proposition, and 
the Congregation of the First Presbyterian Church, 
though reluctant to part with their able and popular 
pastor, felt that they must yield to the almost universal 
demand for the good of the church. 

*That Dr. Ringland will speedily place Macalester 
in a better position financially and make it one of the 
strongest and best educational institutions in the coun- 
try, his friends have complete confidence. The good 
wishes of all Duluth will be with him."^ 

That he would speedily place Macalester in a bet- 
ter financial condition, was the hope and prayer of all 
of Macalester College's friends. But when money is 
scarce and, moreover, when an institution is burdened 
with a heavy debt, even a truly Herculean efifort may 
fail to realize the expectations of over-zealous friends. 
Dr. Ringland knew that his position was a difficult one, 
but he was confident of achieving speedy success. But 
in this he was doomed to great disappointment. 

In his first 'report to the Board of Trustees, June 
10, 1893,^ Dr. Ringland expressed his views concern- 
ing the problem before the college. A considerable 

iDuluth Herald, Nov. 1892. 

^Record B, Board of Trustees, page 226. 



MACALESTER FROM 1890-1900. 205 

part of the report is here reprinted because it fur- 
nishes the key to his administration: 

"This Board is called to face not a simple but an 
exceedingly complex condition. It is confronted by a 
past in the form of a debt, by a present of very for- 
bidding financial aspect, by a future of great effort 
inspired by great responsibilities and great ultimate 
promise. * * * j think we can say, that there 
are just four stable grounds of confidence which are 
worth mentioning, upon which the Board dare to lean 
for the continued life of this institution. * * * 
The first of the four grounds of legitimate confidence 
for the continued life of this institution is the canvass 
which has already been put in motion. While we 
cannot say perhaps that it has been eminently success- 
ful as yet we ought, I think, to say that under the 
conditions, it has been satisfactory. * * * It is 
the cheapest and best method of advertising because 
the people themselves pay for the "at>" and all the 
profits on the work come to us rather than go out from 
us. It will be a choice method of arousing an inter- 
est and building up a patronage for the college. 

"The second ground of our confidence must be in 
due increase of male students. This increase can be 
readily made, as I believe, by a thorough and judicious 
canvass. * * * Qur students, after all, are our 
best apostles. If we can send them out year after 
>ear to say that Macalester College is a choice place 
for the retreat of students, that its appointments are 
satisfactory, and that they intend to come back, a great 



2o6 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

and important factor in our success is conserved. But 
if on account of small things easily overcome the spirit 
of criticism rises to a voice of compaint and that voice 
of complaint brings on an exodus, it will be next to im- 
possible to overcome the harm that v^ill be done. 

"I name as the third ground of our confidence 
ENDOWMENT. It may be said that this is the worst 
possible time to prosecute a canvass for such funds. 
The only answer that can be given is that, whether the 
best possible or the worst possible time, it must be done. 
The fact that our current' expenses are steadily eating 
into the very heart of our available collaterals and no 
commensurate thing is coming in to offset the drain, 
is, to any sober business judgment, a certain foreshad- 
owing of doom. 

If the Board is ready to say that it is useless to 
go into the field, I, for one, am ready to say that I see 
nothing to tarry for but the benediction. These hard 
times do not come to us in a day and will not retire 
in a day. We will have to throw our resolute trust 
upon God into the more agonizing action if necessary. 
* "^ * Lastly, I call your attention to the fourth 
ground of our confidence, viz., Co-education. I shall 
not discuss the question in any other light than the 
financial. I shall not take the pro's or con's of the 
agreement which might be taken if we had an en- 
dowment or an income from other sources. I shall 
simply take ground such as would be taken by the 
surgeon, and which would be cordially consented to 
by friends were the life of the patient in jeopardy. I 



MACALESTER FROM 1890-1900. 207 

take it that this college is in that condition. * * * 
This board must not wait for another meeting to de- 
cide this question. It has had the last day that can 
be reasonably given it. * * * If it does cast some 
temporary sacrifice of convicton to place Co-education 
here for a short term of years, that is a small sacrifice 
by the side of the corporation standing which suffers 
under the cry of unpaid laborers, and the forfeiture 
of confidence of business houses in our city which wait 
for months for their accounts to be paid. * * * 
My own mind is clear that when we come to sum up 
our obligations they will be found to be fourfold. 
I. A preparatory department to the college. 2. A 
college proper for young men, after the type of an 
Eastern college. 3. A young ladies' seminary. 4. 
A theological seminary. 

"I furthermore believe that if this Board wishes to 
make a rapid movement towards a splendid success 
here that it will find its easiest path through some 
such method as the following one, to wit: i. Let 
the purpose be to devote as soon as possible to the use 
of the dormitories and class room work. 2. Use every 
means to interest some person of large wealth to adopt 
the College Department, endowing its professorship, 
erecting its buildings, furnishing its apparatus and 
leaving a permanent fund for insurance and repairs. 
The sum of $400,000 would easily care for these things 
for the present. For this Board to say that that sun^ 
could not be secured in five years, when Chicago Uni- 
versity has gathered something like seventeen times 



2o8 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

as much in two-fifths of that time is to utterly dis- 
credit this location and turn our whole enterprise into 
contempt. * * * 2. The buildings for the Ladies' 
Seminary once on the ground and properly equipped, 
that department will not only pay its own way, but 
under proper management will pay a surplus. The 
expenses for a girl can be made several times the ex- 
penses of a boy, when once the institution has gained 
its place in public recognition. By which I mean, 
that a Ladies' Seminary has not the same dependence 
upon endowment as a college for young men. The 
music, painting, drawing, profits on board, etc., with 
the paternal pride in daughters and a corresponding 
willingness to pay more for their education gives a 
Ladies' Seminary a decided advantage over a school 
for boys. I am advised that when once started with 
any reasonable patronage there are plenty of applicants 
to take such schools off the hands of the original man- 
agements and allow the Board to name the ligature 
by which such school is still to sustain its relation to 
the system of schools of which it is a part. 4. The 
final suggestion at this point is that we look forward 
to the establishment of a Theological Seminary. This 
point is the natural one for the Seminary for the belt 
of states reaching to the coast. We are here to create 
and foster a ministry for the next generation. In a 
growing community with a rapid growing church we 
already see the importance of doing one of two things. 
Either sending our boys farther away from home to 



MACALESTER FROM 1890-1900. 209 

the east, patronizing the Omaha Seminary, or furnish- 
ing one ourselves." 

It was Dr. Ringland's misfortune to come to the 
college at a time when the financial depression through- 
out the country was at its worst. As the months went 
on the outlook became more and more threatening. 
The men who had done most to sustain Macalester 
had lost heavily during the panic and several of them 
had become insolvent. It soon became evident that 
his elaborate plans could not be carried out. Under 
those circumstances the best that could be expected 
was to keep the institution in operation. But even 
that was almost impossible. The deficit increased. 
Then he proposed a plan to raise sixty-five thousand 
dollars to be paid in twenty installments running 
through a period of five years; but this undertaking 
failed completely. Discouraged by such experiences, 
disappointed in the results of his efforts as a financial 
agent and believing that under existing conditions he 
vv^ould not be able to serve Macalester as he desired, 
he resigned the presidency March 13, 1894. 

During that school year, 1893-4, the college suffered 
the loss of its founder and senior professor, Dr. Neill. 
The total enrollment was exactly one hundred. Forty- 
two were in the college and fifty-eight in the 
academy. The diligence, character and loyalty of 
the students to the college compensated for many dis- 
comforts the faculty were obliged to endure. Dr. Ring- 
land said in his report to the trustees, June, 1894: 
"The year has been one of great financial trial to the 



210 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

professors." "To them belongs the credit of keeping 
the college open for the year just ended." 'The 
hardships to these professors have been very great 
and in some cases involve all the accumulations of 
past years." "The church owes a lasting debt of 
gratitude to the men and women who have held the 
ship in the storm and have brought that ship to you 
unharmed at the end of a trip so critical." ^ 

The period of greatest suffering for the faculty 
was from 1893- 1897. Salaries were meagre and mon- 
ey scarce. One of the most trying periods was during 
1896. From June to August loth, it was uncertain 
whether the college would again open its doors. On 
the latter date the authorities decided to continue the 
work and on the next day a circular letter was sent to 
the ministers, elders and other friends of the institu- 
tion announcing this decision and asking their co- 
operation. When the fall term opened an unexpected- 
ly large number of students enrolled. Their devotion 
was noble and inspiring. Frequently their appreci- 
ation of what the professors were sacrificing found 
expression in the "Echo," and in other ways they show- 
ed their esteem for the members of the faculty. Here 
is an example: "We do appreciate the members of 
our faculty and the work they are doing. We are 
proud of them. * * * That the work done here 
is being appreciated by outsiders is best testified to by 
the efforts of a neighboring institution (Carleton Col- 

^Minutes of the Trustees, Record "B," pages 246-7. 



MACALESTER FROM 1890-1900. 211 

lege) , to secure Dr. Davis on its faculty." ^ Dr. Strong 
had requested him to bring as many students along as 
possible. He had asked Dr. Wallace, also, and re- 
quested that in case Macalester should be obliged to 
close its doors the students be directed to go to Carle- 
ton. But Macalester was not ready to give up. 

Slowly the Presbyterian church began to take an 
interest in its school. The fact that the professors 
were true to the college when their salaries were far 
in arrears ; that they cheerfully carried heavy schedules 
and gave thorough instruction, and that the students 
were enthusiastically loyal to their college gradually 
developed a sentiment in its favor throughout a large 
part of the state. 

After Dr. Ringland's resignation the duties of the 
executive office again fell to the Dean, Dr. Wallace. 
And when the trustees submitted their annual re- 
port to the synod which met at Rochester in October, 
1894, they requested synod to nominate a president 
for the college.2 The committee appointed by the 
moderator to present a name for this office ponslsted 
of Dr. John Paul Egbert, General Adams, Revs. John 
Pringle and Samuel Semple, and Elder Farr. They 
unanimously recommended Dr. Wallace for this po- 
sition and the synod, unanimously and by rising vote, 
adopted the report.^ 

But Dr. Wallace did not accept the election for presi- 
dent. After conferences with the trustees he consent- 

^Macalester Echo, May 22, 1897, page 211. 
^Minutes of the Synod of Minn., 1894, P^ge 550. 
^Minutes of the Synod of Minn., 1894, page 557. 



2ia MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

ed, however, to perform the duties of acting-president. 
Meanwhile, he continued to carry a full schedule in 
the college. On Saturday he visited churches, and 
Sundays preached wherever he could secure a hearing 
for the school. Students then came from all parts of 
the state, whereas in the earlier years the attendance 
was chiefly from the Twin Cities. 

During the late summer of 1895, the ladies of Mac- 
alester Park and other good women of the church, 
fitted up the president's house as a Ladies' Hall. 
The Elms, as it came to be known that year, was occu- 
pied by eleven young women, and the total female at- 
tendance in the school amounted to twenty-six. In 
the fall of that year, a lady professor, for the first time 
in the history of the college, was engaged as instructor 
and member of the faculty. This was Miss Charlotte 
Mead, teacher of German and French. Mr. Harry 
E. Phillips the same autumn began a course in instru- 
mental and vocal music at the college. This has de- 
veloped into the department of music of which he is 
the head. It is now recognized as one of the best in 
the Northwest. 

The course in the Academy was extended from 
three to four years, and in the college electives in 
Sociology. Greek and Hebrew were offered. The to- 
tal attendance ran up to one hundred and twenty-one. 
During the year 1895-6, the churches of the synod 
made the best showing for contributions to the col- 
lege — having given $1,750.30 to its support, not in- 
cluding individual gifts from friends in the Twin 



MACALESTER FROM 1890-1900. 213 

Cities. But that meant that still over two hundred 
churches or four out of every five gave nothing to the 
cause of Christian education.^ 

There probably was no time in the history of Mac- 
alester when the relation between the students and 
the faculty was so cordial as during these years. A 
splendid college spirit reigned. The students were 
devoted to their studies and everything that was done 
was performed with a right good will. The athletic 
teams, although the college had no paid coach, won a 
large majority of their games. In football, particu- 
larly, Macalester had a splendid record for victories. 
The literary societies did excellent work. A new so- 
ciety, the "Philadelphian," was organized in 1894, ir 
order to give individual students more opportunities 
for practice in debate and public speaking. The male 
quartet and the Brass Band furnished creditable musi- 
cal entertainments, and the Y. M. C. A. and Student 
Volunteers stimulated a healthy interest in religious 
matters. 

In February, 1896, the trustees called Prof. D. N. 
Kingery, a graduate of Wabash,. 1893, to take up the 
subjects formerly taught by Professor Trask, who, 
lacking the gift of teaching, had resigned. Professor 
Kingery came to the college in March of the same year 
and at once became the head of the departments of 
Science and Mathematics. Macalester was very for- 
tunate in securing his services at a time when it needed 
a competent man, although unable to offer the salary 

iMinutes of the Synod of Minn., 1896, page 88. 



214 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

most teachers in science demanded. Early in life Pro- 
fessor Kingery had shown great mathematical talent 
and a fondness for natural sciences. When he came to 
Macalester the departments over which he was placed 
had been sadly neglected. He made much of the ap- 
paratus needed for experiments and soon created a 
deep interest in the subjects he taught. Sincere, kind 
and unselfish, guileless by nature, having an undeviat- 
ing sense of honor and of right, he is one of the most 
beloved of Macalester's professors. Interested in 
clean athletics he has encouraged true sportsmanship 
and in many other ways has helped to promote the 
best interests of the college. In addition to his heavy 
teaching hours he has been registrar and has perform- 
ed the duties of deputy treasurer. 

The year 1897-8 witnessed an increase in the at- 
tendance of young women in the college department. 
Anticipating this growth, the trustees had appointed 
Mrs. Julia M. Johnson preceptress of the Elms and 
Professor of English Literature. Mrs. Johnson Is a 
graduate of Mount Holyoke, class of 1885, and has 
pursued graduate work at the Universities of Penn- 
sylvania, Cincinnati and Minnesota. She is a pams- 
taking and enthusiastic teacher, and a literary critic of 
ability. As Dean of Women and Preceptress of Wal- 
lace Hall, she has endeared herself to the young wo- 
men of Macalester. 

In 1897 Professor Lester D. Brown resigned as 
adjunct professor of Greek. He was a popular teach- 
er and a scholar who was held in high esteem by his 



MACALESTER FROM 1890-1900. 215 

colleagues in the faculty. Professor John P. Hall, 

an alumnus of Princeton University, succeeded him 
With the exception of two years, 1903-5, when he was 
instructor of Greek at Princeton, he has served Mac- 
alester as Professor of Greek. Since 1908 he has been 
principal of the Academy. 

Rev. William C. Laube was made head of the de- 
partment of German in 1897 and upon his resignation 
the following year was succeeded by Rev. Henry D. 
Funk. 

Almost every alumnus of Macalester associates 
the name of Samuel Cookman with the college. Mr. 
Cookman came to Macalester in 1887, and with the 
exception of a few years, has been in its continuous 
service. His care of the building and his usefulnes.^ 
have been of inestimable value to the trustees. 



CHAPTER XI. 
MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 

Co-education is a distinctive phase of the American 
system of higher learning. It is one of the evidences 
of the emancipation of woman in the nineteenth cen- 
tury, and the natural consequence of free elementary 
and secondary schools. In 1833 Oberlin Collegiate in- 
stitute^ was opened admitting both men and women 
on an equal basis. In 1853 Antioch college,^ over 
which Horace Mann presided, was opened likewise as 
a co-educational institution. 

The state universities of the West in response to 
public sentiment allowed women the same privileges as 
were provided for the men.^ But the denominational 
colleges of the western states did not become co-edu- 
cational so readily as did the state institutions. In the 
course of time, however, most of them permitted young 
women to enter. The oldest protestant colleges of 
Minnesota, Hamline, Gustavus Adolphus and Carleton 
began as institutions for both sexes. 

These colleges found it advantageous to be co-edu- 
cational and their experience was not without effect 
upon Macalester. Macalester College was opened as a 
college for men only. But the spirit of the West de- 

iButler Education in the U. S. Page 324. 
^Butler Education in the U. S. Page 324. 
^Butler Education in the U. S. Page 325- 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 217 

manded co-education. Had Macalester been opened 
as a school for both sexes much trouble might have 
been averted. The attendance from the beginning 
would have been much larger and it probably would 
have gained friends mOre rapidly when it was in great- 
est need of such. It certainly would have added to the 
resources of the college at a time when, owing to the 
concessions granted to ministerial candidates, the re- 
ceipts from tuition fees were very low. Finally Mac- 
alester was obliged to yield to the pressure of the time 
and open its doors to young women. Until this be- 
came a fact the possibility of the introduction of co- 
education was the occasion for much uneasiness and 
even of ill feeling in the faculty and among the trus- 
tees. 

It was one of the causes for the lack of harmony 
between Dr. McCurdy and Dr. Neill. On Dec. 19, 
1884, one month after the new president had arrived, 
in a meeting of the trustees, he urged the adoption oi 
the principle of co-education.i When the college was 
opened the next year Dr. McCurdy stated publicly 
that he hoped soon to see the youths of both sexes 
attending Macalester.^ To this policy Dr. Neill was 
unalterably opposed. From the opening of the college 
until Dr. Neill's death in 1893, the presence of young 
women, even in the academy, was the occasion for in- 
ternal discord. How strongly Dr. Neill felt on this 

iMinutes of the Trustees of Macalester College, Record 
«A," Page 188. 

2St. Paul Pioneer Press, Sept. 17, ioo5- 



2i8 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

matter in 1885 may be noted from a letter which he 

addressed to the Board of Trustees in October of that 

year. The letter read as follows : 

"Saint Paul, October i, 1885. 
To The Trustees of Macalester College, 
Gentlemen : 

After my dedicatory address on the i6th of Sep- 
tember, in which mention was made that it was the in- 
tention of the founders of, and donors to, Macalester 
College, that it should be a college for young men, 
and also that the Synod had adopted it as their col- 
lege for young men, President McCurdy told the audi- 
ence that I was mistaken. 

Will the Board kindly appoint a committee to con- 
fer with me, as I have felt that the remark was not 
timely, even uncourteous, as well as incorrect. If the 
trustees disregard the agreement with the Synod and 
make it a college for the co-education of sexes, it is 
probable that the executors of Mr. Macalester and the 
founder may take steps to see that the intention of the 
founder and his friends is executed by the Trustees. 

Believe me, 

Sincerely, 
Edward D. Neill." 1 

In deference to Dr. Neill's strong feeling against 
co-education young women were not permitted to at- 
tend the college classes, but special indulgence was 
given to a few young women to attend the Preparatory 
department. The catalog for 1885-6 contains this 
statement: "The following young ladies living near 
to, and on the grounds of Macalester College, were, 
by action of the Board of- Trustees, admitted to classes 
in the Preparatory Department of the College. This 

^This letter was printed by Dr. Neill and sent to the 
trustees and to friends. A copy thereof is in the library. 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 219 

privilege is limited to members of the Professors' fam- 
ilies and to those near the college."^ 

By this arrangement ten young women attended 
the men's school. This was the entering wedge. It 
restricted the attendance of young women to the 
academy and even there only to those connected with 
the college authorities. But it made a breach. 

Very soon a demand was made for the extension 
of this privilege to the young women of Macalester and 
Merriam Parks. The requests grew stronger and 
more insistant with each succeeding year. In answer 
to such appeals Dr. Burrell on September loth, 1889, 
offered the following resolution which was adopted by 
the Board of Trustees : ''Resolved, That young ladies 
living in the vicinity of the college may be received to 
the Preparatory class for the present term." ^ By this 
action the door for the admission of women was open- 
ed a little wider. Five young women living near the 
college availed themselves of the opportunity and at- 
tended preparatory classes. But Dr. Neill refused to 
teach any class in which they were enrolled. 

As this privilege did not yet include the college 
department, female attendance did not grow rapidly. 
During the following years the call for the admission 
of women to the college became louder and more 
determined. By the faculty, the trustees, the students 
and patrons of the college this demand was, on the 
whole, regarded more and more favorably. The ap- 

ipirst Annual Catalog, 1885-6. Page 9. 

2Record B. Minutes for Sept. 10, 1889. Page 107. 



220 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

peal, of course, was not universal, and there were some 
who objected very earnestly to this proposed innova- 
tion. But the cause of co-operation was gaining. 

Public sentiment gradually favored the support of 
one Presbyterian college for the youth of both sexes, 
especially because the college was small and depended 
almost altogther on the gifts of the churches. 

A letter to Dr. Wallace, written by Mrs. Rice, the 
widow of Dr. Daniel Rice, who was the financial sec- 
retary for both Albert Lea and Macalester, from 1880- 
1884, and later trustee and professor in Macalester 
College, expresses the changed view that many good 
friends of these two institutions came to hold. This 
letter is dated June 5th, 1895 ; in a part of it she wrote : 
"As you know Dr. Rice and myself were in favor of 
establishing the two colleges — Macalester and Albertj 
Lea — and of separate education. The great and per- 
sistent efforts of ten years have demonstrated that 
the difficulty of establishing these two colleges is much 
greater than was then supposed. Most of our churches 
are young and weak, while many of our strongest are 
crippled with debt. In looking at the signs, and very 
carefully considering this whole matter, I have come 
to believe that it would be better for all interests con- 
cerned if the two colleges were united in one, and I feel 
sure from opinions expressed before his death, that 
if Dr. Rice were living he would coincide with me 
in this. I do not know how serious would be the 
difficulties in the way, but so desirable does this union 
seem to be that I have decided to make the following 



> 

> 
f 

M 
in 
H 
w 

n 

o 

M 

o 



o 




MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 221 

proposition to the Trustees of Macalester College." 
Mrs. Rice then offered to give the Trustees ten thou- 
sand dollars for memorial scholarships if they would 
"use their endeavors to bring about a consolidation 
of the two colleges, Albert Lea and Macalester, as soon 
as possible.'^^ 

The first step looking toward the removal of the ban 
against women was taken by President Ringland. In 
his first report to that body, Dr. Ringland strongly 
urged them to permit the attendance of young women 
at Macalester, in order to win more friends and a larg- 
er income from tuition fees. The Trustees, after pro- 
longed discussion voted to give co-education a trial for 
five years. The vote was very close, five in favor and 
four opposed; the motion being carried by the Presi- 
dent's vote. This action, which was not taken without 
an acquaintance with the opinion of the Synod of Min- 
nesota on this question, led trustees R. P. Lewis and 
W. M. Tenny, to resign from the Board. They believ- 
ed that the Trustees had violated an important agree- 
ment existing between the college and the synod and 
that it would result in great harm to Albert Lea. Al- 
though they continued to be good friends of the college 
they did not see their way clear to remain on its govern- 
ing board. 

For several years the synod had maintained an Ad- 
visory Committee on Education. The business of this 
Committee was to counsel the trustees and the presi- 

iRecord "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, Page 
274-5. 



222 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

dents of Albert Lea and Macalester Colleges on such 
matters as were of special interest to the synod. As 
the Committee represented each Presbytery of the Syn- 
od and was expected to' reflect the general thought of 
the church on any question relating to the affairs of 
the colleges, Dr. Ringland had referred to this Com- 
mittee the question of introducing co-education at Mac- 
alester. The counsel of the Advisory Committee was 
in favor of Dr. Ringland's policy, as the report to the 
Synod shows : "Your committee held its first meeting 
on the 23rd of March in the Westminster Church. A 
majority were present. Representatives of both our 
Synodical Colleges were heard at length concerning 
the interests of their respective institutions. After a 
full consultation the following action was unanimously 
taken : 'Resolved, That it is the opinion of this com- 
mittee that Macalester College should adopt the system 
of co-education and make suitable provision therefore 
at the earliest possible date.' "^ ^ 

A second meeting was held at the same place on 
August 1st. Between these meetings, however, the 
Eoard of Trustees of Macalester College, feeling that 
a crisis had come in the history of the institution which 
demanded immediate action as to its future policy, and 
being legally a body of independent control, adopted 
the principle of co-education and began preparations 
for opening the college according to that plan. This 
action being in harmony with the views of the commit- 

2Record "B," Minutes of the Board of Trustees, Page 226. 
^Minutes of the Synod of Minn. 1893, Page 485. 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 223 

tee the following recommendation was adopted: "Re- 
solved, That the action of the Board of Trustees of 
Macalester College in making provision for a five years' 
trial of the system known as co-educational, be recom- 
mended to Synod as a perfectly satisfactory action." 

"Two meetings of the Committee have also been 
held during the sessions of this Synod." 

"Your committee present the following as their 
final report and recommendations : As is well known 
to this Synod thus far in the history of our educational 
work we have failed to secure the money necessary to 
carry forward the work as originally planned. We 
have also been unable to arouse the interest and ener- 
gies of our people in behalf of our educational institu- 
tions ; and in many respects have failed to make our 
institutions take the high rank in the state and country 
which our prestige as a church would lead us to ex- 
pect. These considerations have forced us to the con- 
clusion that changes must be made in our system, that 
we may be able to arouse and control all the energies 
of our churches in the interests of our educational 
work and that we may place such work upon a more 
secure footing even though it may be at the expense 
of radical change and retrenchment. We therefore 
recommend : 

I. That Synod approve the adoption of the plan 
of co-education by the Trustees of Macalester College." 

This report and the recommendations were adopted 
by the synod. 

While this action expressed the thought of a large 



224 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

majority of the church it was by no means agreeable 
to all. Naturally enough the directors of Albert Lea 
resented it. They believed that Macalester was vio- 
lating the terms of the agreement by which it passed 
under the auspices of the synod and that it would be- 
come a dangerous rival instead of being one of the 
friendly twins. 

But the person most keenly disappointed over the 
admission of women to the college was Dr. Neill. His 
feelings were expressed in the following letter : 

"Saint Paul, September 5, 1893. 

Gentlemen: The legislature of Minnesota, in 1873, 
amended the College charter, by which amendment you 
were required to 'make such regulations as will best 
carry out the wishes of the founders of the institution 
and the donors of its' fund.' 

''As the founder of Macalester College, who ex- 
pended several thousands of dollars 'n its establish- 
ment, I must therefore earnestly protest agamst your 
late action by which vou have thwarted the design of 
the founder, and all the donors to the fund ; the time, 
that the amendment to the charter was secured, and 
request that you will enter my proles^ in your minutes. 

"For twenty years it has been anno'inced by the 
trustees that Macalester College was a college for 
young men. The Synod of Minnesota, a'though it 
could have no direct control over it. recog'uzed it as 
a college for voung men, and commended it to the con- 
fidence of Presbyterian families. To it, as a college 
for young men I gave a library of about one thousand 
volumes, valuable manuscripts of William Penn, 
George Washington and other illustrious men, as well 
as many articles to the Museum of "History, and also 
procured from three friends more than two thousand 
dollars for the purchase of books for the reference li- 
brary. 






O 
o 

W 

a 




MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 225 

"The Rev Dr. Rice made a bequest to the College 
in the belief that it was designed only for young men. 
"In a printed circular soliciting subscriptions to 
the amount of one hundred and twenty-five thousand 
($i2S,ooo) dollars to pay certain debts, you use this 
language: Tour years' experiment has made evident 
the need of just such an institution as Macalester Col- 
lege, one exclusively for young men, of a high grade 
of scholarship/ With this understandmg I subscribed 
to the payment of the debts. ^ • 1 ^. 

"In your late printed circular offering certain lots 
for sale, you again mention^: It is a high grade college 
for young men exclusively.* 

"Hopino- that you may reconsider your action, 

Believe me, faithfully, 

Edward D. Neill." ^ 
To Trustees of Macalester College. 

The opening of the school year for 1893-4 did not 
witness a great influx of young women. Only three 
entered as collegians, two of them were freshman 
and one was admitted to the Junior class. The young 
ladies who dared invade the classes from which they 
had hitherto been barred were Mayme Ringland and 
Winnifred Moore, of the freshman class, and Janet 
May Darling, who was classified as a Junior. 

The men of the college were unanimously in favor 
of the change. They gave the fair Co-eds a very cordial 
welcome, received them into the literary societies and 
invited them to participate in all academic functions. 

The reason for the small attendance of women dur- 
ing the next few years lies in the lack of proper accom- 
modations for them, and in the uncertainty of the col- 

iRecord "B," See Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 
Page 234- 



226 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

lege's future. Then again some parents hesitated about 
sending their daughters to a school that had adopted 
co-education only as an experiment, without being fully 
committed to it. Not until 1896 were quarters found 
for a boarding hall in the house formerly used as the 
president's home. And as that provided rooms for 
only a small number it naturally limited the attendance. 
The following table shows the attendance of women 
both in the college and in the academy since co-edu- 
cation was introduced. 

Year. In College. In The Academy. 

1893-4 3 4 

1894-5 3 5 

1895-6 6 20 

1896-7 4 12 

1897-8 15 12 

1898-9 15 19 

1899-00 15 19 

1900-01 18 21 

1901-02 22 24 

1902-03 26 28 

1903-04 26 48 

1904-05 34 36 

1905-06 37 48 

1906-07 48 46 

1907-08 51 57 

1908-09 68 70 

1909-10 B4 80 
One of the very first objects of the reorganized 
Board of Trustees was to provide suitable accommoda- 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 227 

tions for young women at Macalester. This meant that 
co-education had been tried and approved. During the 
spring of 1906 plans for a Woman's Building were 
completed and in the autumn of the same year the 
work of construction was begun. The architects were 
Messrs. Bell and Detweiler of Minneapolis. At the 
suggestion of Dr. Hodgman, the building was name^^ 
Wallace Hall, in honor of the former president. Its 
dimensions are sixty feet wide by one hundred and 
twenty-seven feet in length. It is absolutely fire-proof, 
and is thoroughly modern in every appointment. 
There is no Woman's Building in the Northwest that 
excells it in beauty and in practical equipment. It 
was a happy day for the friends of the college, and 
for the young women of Macalester in particular, when 
on the evening of Dec. 3rd, 1907, Wallace Hall was 
formally opened and dedicated. 

Mr. D. R. Noyes, on that occasion happily express- 
ed the sentiments of the Presbyterians of the state when 
he called "this beautiful Hall and Dormitory, the pride 
of Macalester and an earnest of its successful future," 
and said : ^ "This beautiful Wallace Hall marks a fu- 
ture departure in the history of Macalester and will 
also, I am sure, mark a new incoming to the College." 

As a token of their appreciation tha young women 
of the college presented a beautiful bronze tablet to 
the building committee and had it placed on the left 
side of the entrance to the Hall. It contains this in- 
scription : "To the building committee, Rufus C. Jef- 



iMacalester Col. Bulletin, Vol III, No. 11-12, 1907. 



228 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

ferson, Robert A. Kirk, Bishop H. Schriber, In grate- 
ful recognition the women of Macalester inscribe this 
tablet." 

In making the presentation Miss Nina Johnson, 
speaking for the girls of the college said : "The wom- 
en of Macalester for many years have longed for a 
woman's dormitory. Many are the dormitories we 
have built in imagination and in our dreams, although 
their realization seemed far distant. But now, we at 
last have a dormitory, more beautiful and more com- 
plete than those we dreamed of. It is a pleasure and 
a privilege, to tell the men who have given us this beau- 
tiful home, how delighted we are to enjoy it. 

"Wallace Hall and the names of Mr. Jefferson, Mr. 
Kirk and Mr. Schriber, are inseparably connected in 
the hearts of the Macalester girls of today, and we de- 
sire the same to be true in the years to come. That 
we might leave some lasting token of our appreciation 
in honor of the men whose supervision of this building 
has been almost daily for the last two years, we have 
had their names inscribed on a tablet. The women of 
Macalester desire to express their thanks and gratitude 
also to Messrs. Weyerhaeuser, Dunwoody, Thomson 
and Janney, whose gifts have helped to make this dor- 
mitory possible."^ 

The new accommodations for girls soon attracted 
young women from the entire Northwest and rapidly 
increased their enrollment. Already its accommoda- 
tions for eighty young women is taxed to the limit. 

^Macalester Bulletin, No. 11-12, 1907. 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 229 

Under the direction of Mrs. Julia M. Johnson, the Dean 
of Women, the best interests of the young ladies in 
health and morals is assiduously cared for. 

Since the day that Macalester became co-educa- 
tional its young women have reflected great credit upon 
themselves and also upon the college. Their scholas- 
tic attainments have been such as to invite most indus- 
trious competition from the men. Repeatedly they 
have won first honors in class and in the literary so- 
cieties. 

Mrs. Winnifred Moore-Mace, of the class of 1897, 
has the distinction of being the first woman graduate 
of Macalester, and Miss Anna Dickson, as the saluta- 
torian of the next class, '98, was the first honor student 
among the women of the institution. In the class of 
1900, Mathilda Pederson won first honors. In 1901 
Lily Bell Watson, was the salutatorian, and in 1902 
the same honor was given Helen Wallace-Davies. 
Bessie Doig-Jacobsen led the class of 1903, while Mary 
Rankin was awarded second honors. Margaret Evans- 
Detweiler ranked second in the class of 1904, and 
Ruth Swasey-Rusterholz led her class in 1906. Rose 
Amelia Metzer-Nutt, Lydia Anna Schroedel and Bar- 
telle Barker, respectively, have won the highest stand- 
ing in their classes for the years 1907-1908, and 1909. 
The presence of women has done much to improve 
the social life of the college and to restrain exuberant 
youths. An alumnus of the class of 1890 comparing 
the conduct of the students of the earlier days with con- 
ditions of today, expressed himself well satisfied that 



330 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

co-education has made the deportment of the men 
better and more refined. 

Many of the alumnae are now teaching in the high 
schools of the state where they have accredited them- 
selves with honor to their Alma Mater. They are 
among the most enthusiastic supporters of the college, 
and render a noble service in the cause of public edu- 
cation. 




Mr. Charles E. Mac Kean. 



CHAPTER XII. 
From 1900 to 1910. 

In the decade beginning with the opening of the 
twentieth century Macalester has witnessed her great- 
est development. When Thomas H. Dickson, the pres- 
ident of the Board of Trustees, and Charles E. Mac- 
Kean, the treasurer, in a joint statement on July 20th, 
1900, announced the liquidation of the debt, the col- 
lege entered upon a new period in its history. 

The combined attendance in the college and in the 
academy increased from one hundred and thirty-six 
in 1900 to three hundred and ten in 19 10. The gradu- 
ating class of the college in 1900 numbered ten, in 
1910, twenty-eight will be awarded diplomas of grad- 
uation. At the beginning of the decade the faculty 
in the college department consisted of ten professors, 
at the close of the period it has seventeen. When the 
new century began, the friends of the college were 
jubilant because the monstrous debt had been removed ; 
after ten years it has a productive endowment of three 
hundred thousand dollars. In 1900 the college lacked 
proper accommodations for its women students and 
had no adequate facilities for instruction in physics, 
chemistry and biology ; but after ten years Macalester 
College is honored in the possession of a woman's 
dormitory that is unsurpassed in its beauty and un- 



232 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

equaled in the comforts of its arrangements among the 
colleges of the Northwest, while a science hall, the 
gift of Mr. Andrew Carnegie, second only to the 
facilities of the State University, will henceforth offer 
splendid opportunities to the students of science. The 
value of the college property in buildings in this dec- 
ade has been increased by not less than one hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars. Thus in ten years, four 
hundred and fifty thousand dollars have been added 
to the assets of the institution. How the endowment 
was raised will be the chief purpose of this chapter 
to narrate. 

The credit for this remarkable achievement belongs 
in a large measure to the present Board of Trustees 
and to the untiring efforts of President Hodgman. 
In June, 1900, the membership of the Board of Trus- 
tees was increased from fifteen to twenty in order to 
secure a, larger representation of the churches. From 
its earliest history the Board had consisted of only 
fifteen members. In 1897 the State Legislature of 
Minnesota passed an Act enabling corporations other 
than those for pecuniary profit, duly incorporated, to 
increase by majority vote the number of trustees of 
such corporations.^ This measure enabled the trus- 
tees to strengthen the Board by adding new members 
without displacing others who had been on its Board 
for many years. 

But while the Board was being increased many oi 

^Record "C," Board of Trustees, page 61. 
^General Laws of Minnesota, S. F. No. 107, 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 233 

the old trustees of the college resigned, believing it 
would be for the best interests of the institution, and 
so practically a new Board was created. In 1905, 
however, the legislative act of 1897, referred to above, 
was amended so that the corporations mentioned might 
also decrease their number of trustees by majority 
vote.i Since some of the trustees believed that the 
Board was too large for efficient business the number 
of directors was reduced to fifteen, and divided into 
three classes of five members each, and it was voted 
"that at least ten of the members of the trustees of 
Macalester College shall be engaged in secular voca- 
tions." 2 

Among those who in 1900 became trustees were 
some who had been the chief promoters of the cam- 
paign to liquidate the debt; e. g., R. A. Kirk and R. 
C. Jefferson of St. Paul ; J. R. Gordon and W. H. Dun- 
woody of Minneapolis. In 1901 Thomas B. Janney, 
of Minneapolis, became a trustee and in the following 
year A. R. Chace, of Marshall, Minnesota, and George 
W. Wishard, of Minneapolis, were elected. These 
were followed by Mr. A. D. Thomason, of Duluth, in 

1905, and by Mr. O. A. Robertson, of St. Paul, in 

1906. Rev. John E. Bushnell, D. D., Rev. A. B. Mar- 
shall, D. D., Rev. Henry Swearingen, D. D., and Rev. 
A. E. Driscoll have been worthy co-laborers of the 
laymen just named. 

Jf ever trustees accepted their office as a trust anr 

^General Laws of Minnesota, S. F. No. 429. 
2Record "C," Minutes of the Trustees, page 123. Chap- 
ter 304. 



334 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

honestly executed the duties incumbent upon them, 
such praise is due to the present members of the 
Board. Much has been said of the loyalty of the stu- 
dents and of the self-sacrifice of the faculty. Their 
heroism, undoubtedly, saved the institution during a 
critical period; but if their faith and selfsacrifice had 
not won the support of generous friends, the years of 
toil and hope and suffering would have been in vain. 
In the last analysis, the critical period of Macalester's 
struggle was not passed until it had secured an en- 
dov>rment. Had death removed two or three of the 
most liberal members of the trustees, humanly speak- 
ing, Macalester could not have survived. But Provi- 
dence spared those benefactors and enabled them to 
achieve a phenomenal victory. 

When the question of removing the old debt was 
debated in 1897, few ministers or laymen believed 
that the task could be done. But there were some 
staunch friends of the college who said it could and 
must be done. A previous chapter shows how their 
determined efforts succeeded in removing the incum- 
brance of the debt. The same spirit of optimism, con- 
secration and perseverance won an even greater tri- 
umph in the completion of the endowment in 1909. 

The inception of the endowment movement can be 
traced to an informal meeting of several trustees, offi- 
cers of the college, and St. Paul friends, held at the 
home of Mr. R. C. Jefferson in 1904. The question 
then under discussion was whether it would be prac- 
ticable to undertake the raising of an endowment for 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 235 

Macalester. Some of the friends of the institution, 
reaHzing the desperate condition in which its finances 
had been, did not beheve that enough money could be 
raised to provide a respectable endowment; others 
were more sanguine, and expressed a strong belief in 
the successful consummation of such an undertaking. 
One result of that conference was that sentiment in 
favor of the college was greatly strengthened. From 
that date the effort to secure productive funds took 
additional force. Among those who thenceforth be- 
lieved in the stability of the institution was notably 
Judge Thomas Wilson. 

Officially, the endowment campaign was launched 
on June 15th, 1904, when a number of trustees and 
friends of the college, numbering forty in all, at a ban- 
quet given at the Aberdeen Hotel in St. Paul," in honor 
of Dr. Wallace," projected a plan to raise five hundred 
thousand dollars.^ 

But, due to conditions which required a change in 
the mark then decided upon, it was proposed in 1905 
to fix the goal for endowment at three hundred and 
twenty-five thousand dollars. Of this amount two 
hundred thousand dollars were intended for produc- 
tive funds, and one hundred and twenty-five thou- 
sand dollars for the erection of new buildings. In 1906 
it seemed impossible to realize even that goal and 
again the mark was lowered, this time making the 
objective two hundred and seventy-five thousand dol- 

iPioneer Press, June 16, 1904. 
Minneapolis Journal, June 16, 1904. 



236 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

lars. But in 1908 circumstances became more favor- 
able for a larger endowment and consequently the 
trustees devoted themselves to secure this amount. 
The General Education Board had made a conditional 
offer of seventy-five thousand dollars provided a total 
of four hundred and fifty thousand dollars were raised. 
This sum was realized after one year of further effort 
in which the trustees experienced some of the great- 
est trials for the cause to which they had devoted them- 
selves. 

In order to advance this cause rapidly and effective- 
ly, the Board enlarged the endowment committee to 
direct the movement. The members of this committee 
were Mr. R. A. Kirk, chairman ; President Hodgman, 
Mr. R. C. Jefferson, Mr. George D. Dayton, Professor 
Thomas Shaw, Rev. A. B. Marshall, Rev. H. C. Swear- 
ingen, and Mr. G. W. Wishard. To their untiring ef- 
forts, optimism and wisdom must be attributed largely 
the happy issue of the endowment campaign. 

The movement was attended with many difficulties. 
In the first place, Macalester being still a young insti- 
tution and many of its alumni engaged in the ministry 
or in professions in which they have not yet been 
able to amass wealth, the college could not expect much 
financial help from them. The trustees were, therefore, 
without the aid which constitutes the main support of 
older institutions. In the second place, the Presby- 
terians of Minnesota had many churches that were 
still not self-supporting, and outside the Twin Cities 
only two or three congregations at best could be called 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 237 

strong financially. Thus it was evident from the be- 
ginning that the outcome of the undertaking rested 
chiefly with the trustees themselves. It was necessary 
that they give generously of their own means, and that 
they solicit the co-operation of men of wealth who 
could be interested in Macalester. 

To this task the committee devoted itself, heartily 
supported by the entire Board. Professor Shaw, the 
president of the Board of Trustees subscribed one 
thousand dollars. He further gave fully nine months' 
service, free of any compensation, to the canvass among 
the churches of the synod. On Sundays he presented 
the cause to the congregations, making powerful ap- 
peals to the Presbyterians of the state for aid in endow- 
ing the college. On Saturdays or Mondays he visited 
individuals whom he sought to interest in the institu- 
tion. This work was done at a great self-sacrifice 
and often meant great inconvenience, long journeys 
and sleepless nights. But with splendid heroism and 
an enthusiasm that was contageous he persevered until 
almost every church in the synod had been visited 
either by himself or by some other representative. 

Mr. R. A. Kirk, vice-president of the Board of 
Trustees, and chairman of the endowment committee, 
subscribed twenty-five thousand dollars. He not only 
gave generously of his money, but took much valuable 
time from his large engrossing business in order to 
promote the interests of Macalester. Many an even- 
ing that might have been spent in the quiet of his 
home or among friends, after the cares of his business, 



338 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

was given up to committee meetings, or to visiting 
men of liberal means whose support he solicited. In 
hearty co-operation with Mr. Kirk stood Mr. R. C. 
Jefferson. His contribution to the endowment fund 
was twenty-eight thousand, eight hundred and seventy- 
nine dollars. To this must be added much precious 
time that represents great money value to enterprising 
business men. He exercised careful supervision over 
the construction of Wallace Hall, and has kept a watch- 
ful eye over the erection of the Carnegie Science Hall. 
Mr. Thomas B. Janney of Minneapolis also has 
been a faithful supporter of Macalester. He is one 
of the leading wholesale merchants of the Twin Cities, 
being president of Janney, Semple, Hill Hardware 
Company. His subscription to the endowment when 
it was initiated amounted to ten thousand dollars ; and 
during the last weeks of the campaign he increased 
it to twenty-thousand dollars. He has been a trustee 
since 1901. 

Mr. A. D. Thomson, of Duluth, is a business man 
interested in several large corporations, and a man 
of influence in financial circles. Since 1905 he has 
served on the Board of Trustees. His original con- 
tribution to the endowment was ten thousand dollars. 
In May, 1909, he added five thousand dollars more. 
The distance from the Twin Cities makes it difficult 
for him to attend many committee meetings, but he 
has been a valuable member of the Board and a gen- 
erous supporter* of the college. 

The youngest member on the Board, in time of 




Mr. a. D. Thomson. 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 239 

service, is Mr. O. A. Robertson. He is still a com- 
paratively young man, but his influence in the finan- 
cial world is strong. When he was invited to become 
a trustee of Macalester he pleaded unfamiliarity with 
the administration of college affairs ; but when urged 
to serve, he declared that if he should become a mem- 
ber of the Board, he would not be a "dead head." Mr. 
Robertson has made good his promise. He subscribed 
twenty-five thousand dollars to the endowment and 
has been a liberal contributor to current expenses and a 
prudent counselor. 

Mr. George W. Wishard gave one thousand, six 
hundred and twenty-five dollars toward the building 
fund and has been a liberal contributor toward cur- 
rent expenses. 

Mr. Bishop H. Schriber, the secretary of the Board 
of Trustees, and the legal adviser of the college, has 
given his valuable professional services to the college 
and also three hundred dollars toward the endowment. 
J. W. Cooper, another trustee, gave five hundred dol- 
lars. Others, according to their means, gave liberally 
toward current expenses and valuable service in com- 
mittee work and in the endowment campaign. Thus 
a total of one hundred and fifteen thousand, six hun- 
dred and seventy-nine dollars was raised among the 
trustees themselves. 

In order fully to appreciate the generosity of these 
men, it is important to remember that during all these 
years the college had no income from invested funds ; 
that it depended on the contributions of the synod, 



240 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

the allowance of the College Board, the gifts of 
patrons, and upon the receipts from tuition fees; 
that gradually the teaching force was increased and 
much apparatus necessary for the departments of phys- 
ics, chemistry, biology and manual training was in- 
stalled ; and that the buildings were repaired at a cost 
of several thousand dollars each year. The budget 
increased from $15,000 in 1901 to $36,000 in 1910. 
This increase in the annual expenses caused a deficit 
which the trustees wiped out from year to year, so 
that after each commencement the college could begin 
a new year free of debt. The total amount devoted to 
this purpose alone, to make credit and debit balance, 
amounted to $38,023.84. 

The following statements by the treasurer show 
the annual deficits of the college for the years ending 
May 31st, 1901-1909. 

1901 $1,500.00 

1902 2,182.77 

1903 5,344.15 

1904 5,144.77 

1905 3,438.15 

1906 6,682.30 

1907 5,215.06 

1908 3,272.00 

1909 5,242.00 

With the help of generous friends the trustees 
have managed to wipe out every year's deficit before 
each commencement day was over. Had this policy , 
not been adhered to, Macalester probably would have 




Mr. James J. Hill. 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 241 

become involved in a debt that would have ruined the 
institution. 

It is not surprising that, when the trustees went 
to their wealthy friends in the Twin Cities to ask for 
subscriptions to the endowment, they now received 
help. Macalester had gained a reputation for sound 
financial management. With confidence in the stabil- 
ity of the institution came generous gifts and — what 
is worth more than thousands of dollars — the good 
will of influential men. 

Among the first to respond to their appeal for 
endowment gifts was Mr. James J. Hill. He first 
offered to give fifty thousand dollars on condition that 
fivjB hundred thousand dollars were raised; when the 
mark was lowered to three hundred and twenty-five 
thousand dollars he proposed to give twenty-five thou- 
sand dollars. In February, 1907, Mr. Hill agreed to 
raise his subscription again to fifty thousand dollars. 
When the total amount had been subscribed Mr. Hill 
was among the first to pay his pledge in full. 

Another St. Paul friend of the college is Mr. Fred- 
erick Weyerhaeuser. He was a generous contributor 
during the dark days and rendered valuable aid in the 
liquidation of the debt. In 1904 he subscribed fifteen 
thousand dollars. As the campaign was nearingf its 
close in 1909, and about ninety thousand dollars were 
still lacking he added the munificent sum of fifty 
thousand dollars to his former pledge. This splen- 
did gift assured success to the undertaking which had 
been very uncertain down to that time. 



242 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Mr. W. H. Dunwoody, of Minneapolis, was among 
the first to support the endowment campaign; in 1904 
he subscribed ten thousand dollars ; and in May, 1909, 
increased his gift to twenty thousand dollars. While 
he was not a member of the Board for a long time, 
yet he has been a generous contributor to current ex- 
penses and a wise counselor. 

Although a regent of the state university, the late 
Judge Thomas Wilson appreciated the worth of the 
small college. He subscribed and paid five thousand 
dollars toward the endowment. 

Mr. William B. Dean, at various times has render- 
ed valuable service to Macalester and gave five thou- 
sand dollars toward the endowment fund. The same 
amount was subscribed and paid by Mr. Charles H. 
Bigelow. These six friends contributed one hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars of the total amount raised. 

Of those who helped the college but lived outside 
the state, Mr. John H. Converse of Philadelphia was 
among the first. A short interview persuaded him of 
the need of such an institution as Macalester, and he 
subscribed five thousand dollars for the endowment 
His death, on May 3rd, 1910, was a great loss to the 
cause of Christian education. In the spring of 1908 
Mr. John Calvin Martin of New York City, pledged 
ten thousand dollars on condition that a chair for 
Biblical instruction be endowed with not less than 
twenty-five thousand dollars, which has been done. 

Like Mr. Converse, Mr. Cyrus H. McCormick of 
Chicago, has been a friend of Christian education. 




Mr. Frederick Weyerhaeuser. 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 243 

His subscription of five thousand dollars completed 
the total amount aimed for, four hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars. 

To complete the account of the large subscriptions, 
two important gifts briefly referred to above, must 
nowr be mentioned, namely, the Rockefeller General 
Education Board's contribution of seventy-five thou- 
sand dollars and Mr. Andrew Carnegie's gift of fifty 
thousand dollars. The former subscription was made 
in 1908 on condition that not less than four hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars be raised. That is why 
the mark set at two hundred and seventy-five thou- 
sand dollars in 1906 was almost doubled in 1908. 

The General Education Board "believed that with 
its fine location and its splendid support it (Macal- 
ester) presented a foundation on which a strong col- 
lege could be built."^ In the effort to secure a hear- 
ing with the General Education Board and with Mr. 
Carnegie, Messrs. Thompson, Kirk and Dr. Hodgman 
were fortunate in having the hearty co-operation of 
Dr. James Stuart Dickson, Secretary of the Pres- 
byterian College Board. Dr. Dickson had the entry 
to these sources of beneficence and used every influ- 
ence in his power to aid the trustees. In his untimely 
death, in the spring of 1909, Macalester sustained a 
great loss. 

The splendid gift offered by the General Education 
Board inspired the trustees with new courage and 
awakened deeper confidence in the school among its 

^Letter from Dr. Wallace Buttrick. 



244 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Other friends. This was true likewise of Mr. Carne- 
gie's gift whicli has been used in the erection of the 
much needed Science HalL With his usual orer!e''osity 
he increased his first pledge of thirty thousand dollars 
to fifty thousand dollars. 

From the sources so far enumerated, from the trus- 
tees and from friends of Macalester in the Twin Cities 
who gave sums ranging from one hundred to one 
thousand dollars, from friends of Christian education 
in the east, from the General Education Board and 
from Mr. Carnegie, four hundred and forty-four thou- 
sand, nine hundred and four dollars had been secured, 
and of this amount one hundred and twenty-three 
thousand dollars were raised between December, 1908, 
and June loth, 19 10. 

Much was not expected from the churches. But 
as the college is recognized as a Presbyterian insti- 
tution, and as it has been an important factor in the 
development of Presbyterianism in the Northwest, it 
was proper that the synod of Minnesota be asked to do 
something for its college. The House of Hope 
Church in St. Paul and the Westminster Church of 
Minneapolis responded with the usual liberality. 

Special notice must be given to the splendid assist- 
ance Dr. A. B. Marshall, pastor of the First Presby- 
terian Church in Minneapolis, rendered during this 
campaign. For two months he visited churches and 
solicited aid from individuals, securing about twenty 
thousand dollars in subscriptions of various denomina- 
tions. He also secured the first pledge of Mr= O. A. 




Rev. John Bushnell, D. D. 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 245 

Robertson for five thousand dollars, to which he later 
added twenty thousand dollars. 

Dr. Marshall has been a loyal friend of Macalester, 
always ready to serve, optimistic, punctual and a re- 
liable and efficient committeeman. 

Rev. A. E. Driscoll was for five years the financial 
secretary of the college. His acquaintance with the 
pastors of the synod and with many influential lay- 
men was of great help in the endowment campaign. 
He was successful in interesting men of means to sup- 
port the college and also brought many students to' 
Macalester. Since his resignation as fiscal secretary in 
1907, he has been a member of the Board of Trustees. 

Rev. Henry C. Swearingen, D. D., in a quiet way 
has done much to bring the endowment movement to 
a happy conclusion. He is a wise counselor and de- 
voted to the cause of Christian education. 

Dr. John Bushnell, pastor of the Westminster 
Church of MinneapoHs has been an able adviser, a 
warm friend of the college and a generous contributor 
towards current expenses. 

Rev. A. H. Carver of Luverne and Rev. Dr. Lan- 
man of St. James also rendered valuable assistance. 
An important result of the campaign was that new 
interest for Macalester was aroused in the churches, 
and that the attendance increased rapidly through the 
publicity thus given. 

Of the alumni many contributed liberally 
considering their circumstances. Mr. J. S. Si- 
monton, of the class of 1893, g^ve four hundred dol- 



246 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

lars; Benjamin Bruce Wallace, 1902, then Rhodes 
Scholar at Oxford, forwarded a subscription of two 
hundred dollars, while others, pastors and missionaries, 
pledged themselves for one hundred dollars eacE and 
smaller sums according to their ability. 

Thus the long looked for endowment became a 
reality. The announcement of its completion was re- 
ceived with dignified, quiet joy. There was a notice- 
able absence of the demonstrations of delight and 
exultation that usually manifest themselves over such 
achievements. But every friend of Macalester rejoiced 
that at last the hopes and prayers of the devoted men 
•and womer^ who had stood by the college in its many 
vicissitudes had been fulfilled. The future bids fair 
to realize many anticipations of the founders and of 
the supporters of Macalester College. 

Before the completion of the endowment the college 
had begun to branch out in different ways. In 1900 
Miss Grace B. Whitridge was elected to the Depart- 
ment of Oratory and Physical Training for "Women. 
To provide further opportunity for literary activities 
a new literary society was formed October 22nd, 1900, 
and called ''Athenean Literary Society." Its member- 
ship is limited to thirty and is for men only. A spe- 
cial feature of the work in this society is debating. As 
a result the Atheneans have acquired marked profi- 
ciency in this art and have won a majority of the inter- 
society debates. The ten charter members of this 
society are: Henry R. Bitzing, P. M. Walker, R. L. 
Thompson, H. R. Morgan, T. A. Watson, A. E. Koenig, 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 247 

George Nelson, Max B. Wiles, Frederick Brown, John 
E. Crystal and Peter Erickson. 

In 1901 R. U. Jones, the valedictorian of his class, 
'01, who for two years had been an assistant in physics 
and chemistry, was made instructor of Chemistry and 
Physics. The increase of students in the Department 
of Science called for additional teaching force and in 
1906, Hugh Alexander, '99, and a graduate student 
of the University of Minnesota was made head of the 
Department of Physics. 

Another Literary Society was organized in May, 
1905. The increased attendance of women had brought 
about the need of a society exclusively for women. 
This led to the organization of the Clionian Literary 
Society which holds its meetings in the afternoon in 
order to make possible the attendance of young women 
who live in the Twin Cities. The Clionian charter 
members were: Margaret Turnbull, '06; Ruth Sher- 
rill, '07; Rose Metzger, '07; Henrietta Lundstrom, 
'07; Martha Jacobsen, '07; Leda Beardsley, ex-'o8; 
Elizabeth Guy, '08, and Lydia Schroedel, '08. 

Since the year 1900, the Department of Music has 
grown remarkably. Professor Harry E. Phillips or- 
ganized the department in 1895. In 1900, Mrs. Maud 
Taylor-Hansen was awarded a diploma of graduation 
from the Piano Department ; she is the first graduate 
of the School of Music. 

In 1905, Miss Grace Taylor graduated from the 
Department of Vocal Music. Since then these two 
departments have had a steady growth. In 1908 the 



248 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

School of Music was enlarged, Professor Phillips re- 
maining at its head, and teacher of voice culture ; Pro- 
fessor George Fairclough is in charge of instrumental 
music, assisted by Mr. Thornton, Miss Godkin, Miss 
Kay, Mrs. McCloud and Miss Lota McMillan. 

Special attention has been given to choral work, 
and under the direction of Professor Phillips the chor- 
us gave public concerts in St. Paul, Minneapolis, 
Hastings and Mankato. 

Since 1900 nineteen music students have been 
graduated from the School of Music. 

The increased attendance and the growth of the 
library have demanded special services in that depart- 
ment. In 1903, Frederick Gibbs Axtell, A. M., an 
alumnus of Wesleyan University, Connecticut, and a 
graduate student of the University of Berlin, was made 
librarian. Under his direction many valuable books 
have been added, the facilities greatly improved, so 
that the library has become a hive of industry. 

Miss Gertrude Crist was placed at the head of the 
Commercial department in 1905. She has also been 
secretary to the president and secretary of the faculty. 

After Rev. A. Cardie, D. D., severed his connection 
with the college in 1907, Rev. F. D. MacRae, Ph. D., 
a graduate of Park college, the University of New 
York, and Union Theological vSeminary, has assisted 
in the work of the college. His subjects are Apolo- 
getics and History. 

The opening of Wallace Hall in 1907, brought 
many new students to the college. This necessitated 



MACALESTER BECOMES CO-EDUCATIONAL. 249 

an increase in the teaching force, and Miss Margaret 
King Moore was elected Preceptress of Wallace Hall 
and Associate Professor of Modern Languages. She 
was followed in the latter department by Mrs. Agnes 
Perkins in 1908-9, Mrs. Julia M. Johnson having suc- 
ceeded Miss Moore as preceptress. 

In 1908, Dr. George W. Davis was recalled to the 
chair of Hebrew Language and Literature, after an 
absence from the college of nine years. 

The same autumn Miss Mae Gibson, M. A., was 
made assistant instructor in Latin, and W. P. Kirk- 
wood, '90, assistant professor of English offering a 
course in Journalism. F. W. Plummer, a graduate 
of Wabash, '08, was made instructor of Biology and 
director of Athletics. 

In 1909, Dr. James Wallace returned to the college 
as head of the Biblical Department and Professor W. 
H. Klose, Ph. D., was called to the Department of 
Modern Languages. Thus the faculty has been broug^ht 
to its greatest strength in the history of Macalester 
college. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

DR. HODGMAN'S ADMINISTRATION. 

"The academic scepter has more of solicitude than 
charms, more anxiety than profit, more trouble than 
remuneration."^ To any one who has scholarly tastes 
and finds chief joy in the sacred retreat of his study 
the executive duties devolving upon the modern col- 
lege president entail much that is a drudgery. It is 
not surprising, then, that Dr. Wallace after enduring 
the trials incident to the presidency of Macalester Col- 
lege in its darkest days, should ask to be relieved of 
the executive duties when a new and brighter era had 
dawned. He had served as president, not from choice, 
but in obedience to the constraining sense of duty. 
His hope was to save the institution and to win for 
it new friends. In 1906 this task had been accom- 
plished and therefore he urged upon the trustees that 
they accept his resignation. The cares of the office, 
the long strain of the campaign to liqudiate the debt 
followed by the canvass for endowment had under- 
mined the Doctor's health so that a change of envir- 
onment became necessary. The trustees accepted his 
resignation and arranged for him to return after a 
leave of absence, to become the head of the Department 

^Melchior Adams, In Pierce's History of Harvard Uni- 
versity, page 41. 



DR. HODGMAN'S ADMINISTRATION. 251 

of Greek. His work is well summed up in a letter 
sent to him by the trustees which reads : 

MinneapoHs, Jan. 18, 1907. 
My Dear Dr. Wallace : 

The Directors of Macalester College, at a meeting 
of the Board held January 16, 1907, formally accepted 
your resignation of the presidency of some months 
ago, and left with us for action when we might have 
some one in view to take up the work that you desired 
to relinquish. 

While taking this action which you have requested, 
the Directors, both as a Board and as individuals, de- 
sire to express their appreciation of the great services 
you have rendered the college during the years you 
have been its chief executive. By an unfaltering de- 
votion to the interests of the institution ; by continuous 
effort in its behalf, many times at the cost to yourself 
of personal sacrifice; by perseverence and patience in 
your labors in time of great discouragement; by ad- 
mirable work in the classroom and by sympathetic com- 
munication with its constituents throughout the whole 
state, you have been the chief instrument in making 
the college what it has become, an institution with not 
only a good history, but as well, a good outlook. 

You were made president of the college when it 
was greatly embarrassed financially; it is now with- 
out debt. Your first classes were small; the college 
now has a large enrollment of students. You found 
it difficult during most of the years of your adminis- 
tration to secure funds in large amounts for the insti- 
tution ; now friends have appeared, many of them made 
by your faith and faithfulness, whose purpose it is to 
provide for the college a substantial endowment. 

In yet another respect your administration has com- 
manded our admiration; you have set a high moral 
standard for the college and by your doctrine and ex- 
ample you have made an atmosphere in which it is 
easy for the young to embrace and to conform their 



252 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

lives to, the best standards. Our institution has no 
better testimonial than the men and women of worth 
whose characters were made strong while in Macales- 
ter under your superintending care. 

We desire you to continue with the college in the 
professorship you have filled for some years, also as 
Dean, etc.^ 

After a thorough search for a man who would be 

able to lead them in making the college which had been 
saved into a stronger and larger institution, the trus- 
tees called Professor Thomas M. Hodgman of the 
University of Nebraska. He had completed his col- 
lege course with honors at Rochester University, New 
York, in 1884, and immediately thereupon became a 
member of the faculty in the new University of Ne- 
braska. For twenty-two years he was connected with 
this institution as a teacher of Science, Latin and Math- 
ematics. During the first year he was instructor of 
Latin and Science. After a short time he was promoted 
to an Adjunct professorship of Mathematics, and then 
was given a full professorship in the same department. 
He originated and edited The University Journal, was 
the Principal of the Preparatory School, Director of 
Summer School,, and Professor of High School In- 
spection. In the development of that strong state in- 
stitution Professor Hodgman has had an important 
share. From 1904- 1907 he was inspector of state 
high schools for the University of Nebraska, which 
gave him a splendid opportunity to become well ac- 
quainted with the secondary school systems of not only 
that state, but of the country at large. 

^Minutes of the Board of Trustees, page 133. 



DR. HODGMAN'S ADMINISTRATION. 253 

As the son of a Presbyterian minister, and as a 
man deeply interested in the work of the Christian 
church he was in thorough sympathy with denomina- 
tional education. In whatever work he had under- 
taken he had demonstrated energy, enthusiasm and ca- 
pacity for organization and leadership. Thus when 
his name was presented to the trustees without his 
knowledge they recognized in him such a man as they 
desired for the presidency. A conference between the 
Executive Committee of the Board and Professor 
Hodgman, early in January, 1907, resulted in his elec- 
tion on the sixteenth day of that month. 

President Hodgman entered upon his official duties 
February 12th, 1907. The occasion was observed with 
fitting exercises in the chapel where a large number 
of friends and the trustees and students were as- 
sembled. Professor Anderson presiding called for 
addresses of welcome from Professor Shaw, represent- 
ing the Trustees, Rev. A. Cardie for the alumni and 
the local church, Marshall Findley in behalf of the 
students and Professor Downing for the faculty. Dr. 
Marshall and Dr. Swearingen then felicitated the col- 
lege upon the securing of the new executive head, 
whereupon President Hodgman was introduced to the 
audience. When he arose to speak he was received 
with prolonged applause and reverberating college 
cheers. In a few appropriate words he then expressed 
his appreciation of the cordial reception and declared 
that he stood firmly for the traditional classical courses 
and the characteristic principles of the Christian college. 



254 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

That day marked the beginning of a new order of 
things for Macalester. 

At the following Commencement, Dr. Hodgman- 
was formally inducted as president of the college by 
Dr. James Stuart Dickson, Secretary of the College 
Board of the Presbyterian Church. This was the 
first inauguration service in the history of the institu- 
tion, although Macalester had had four presidents 
since 1885. It is strong evidence of the greater con- 
fidence felt in the future of the college. In addressing 
the new president Dr. Dickson called attention to the 
problems of Christian education and showed what the 
attitude of the church to denominational colleges had 
come to be. Owing to lack of space only a few of the 
most important paragraphs from his eloquent address 
can here be cited. They are of special import at this 
twenty-fifth anniversary : 

*'The church is coming to recognize the fact that 
it is not in the world merely for training and culture 
of its members, nor exclusively for the rescue of their 
lives from sin and death. It stands for the transforma- 
tion of the whole world : For the making of God- 
ward purpose, for the forming of Christ-ward ideals ; 
for the enlightenment of the world through the knowl- 
edge of Him who came to be its Light. 

"And there is growing in the heart of the Church, 
a clear recognition of the fact that it m.ust do the work 
of such a service, not by preaching only, or by state- 
ments of its creed, or by what has been called through 
somewhat weary centuries, the defense of the faith. 




President T. M. Hodgman. 



DR. HODGMAN'S ADMINISTRATION. 255 

It has learned that it must accomplish its mission by 
service. 

"The thing that is growing everywhere is the de- 
mand for men and women trained for specialized serv- 
ice; whose Christian lives result in such a specializa- 
tion. The Church's obedience to the great Master 
must take the form of a trained, equipped, speciaHzed 
service. Look where you will there is not a problem 
that the Church is seriously considering that must not 
find its answer in terms of human flesh and blood 
equipped for specialized service and consecrated to the 
Lord Jesus Christ. 

"Another thing is growing. I mean the knowledge 
that we cannot have a Church advance through spe- 
cialized Christian service without a definite Christian 
education. Let me put it with more distinctness ; with- 
out a definitely Christ-ward education. If the Church's 
mission in the world is that world's salvation, if that 
salvation can be accomplished only through leader- 
ship ; the Church is, coming to know that such leaders 
must be trained; that they will not happen; that they 
cannot be selected by any hap-hazzard methods. The 
Church, moreover, is perfectly right in such a position 
and is acting upon the results of the world's experience. 
Nothing but higher education will turn out leaders in 
any field. 

"And now let us turn from the demand for col- 
lege training to the question of a method. The edu- 
cational world is growing strong in its assertion that 
you cannot have a real and sufficient training for boys 



256 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

and girls without the small college. When we talk of 
the small college we are not stating an arithmetical 
problem. In order that the college shall be small it 
is not necessary that it should have less than a given 
number in student body. The small college is a mat- 
ter of ideal and of method. It is an institution where 
the right sort of a teacher shall have a really moulding 
influence over the character of the pupil. It stands 
for small classes ; for required work ; for examinations ; 
it sets its face against mere electives, and the slip- 
shod educational methods that must result from the 
application of the university idea to those whose youth 
unfits them for it. The world today is endorsing the 
small college idea, and in most practical ways. 

"And now we turn from the educational world 
more definitely to the Church, and we see that the 
Church is deepening in its conviction, that it can only 
accomplish its mission as it makes the small college 
a definitely Christ-ward institution. If the Church is 
to have more leaders, it must be about its business in 
giving Christian education. Not, mark you, in domin- 
ating institutions; not in torturing its Galileos, but in 
putting its life and love and prayerful interest side by 
side with education, and so giving a Christian educa- 
tion to the world. Do you ask me what is Christian 
education? It is not an education into a form of gov- 
ernment, or a doctrinal position; it is an accurate, 
scientific education, full of that intangible something 
that we call culture, quality that trains a man as he 
goes out into action, to focus all his developed powers 



DR. HODGMAN'S ADMINISTRATION. 257 

upon a given problem at a given moment. I answer 
that it is not in any way necessarily theological edu- 
cation. 

"Let me say further, that the Church is coming to 
understand more and more clearly why secular educa- 
tion will not bring about the results upon which the 
Church life and service depends. Do you ask again, 
what is secular education ? I can give you a theoreti- 
cal answer. It is an education whose one ideal cannot 
be the production of a trained and consecrated servant 
of Jesus Christ. There is, moreover, an answer of 
fact, secular education is an education from which the 
state, for its own reasons, shuts away any of the in- 
fluences of the Gospel of Jesus Christ ; from which it 
shuts away, in any degree, the study of the Bible as 
the Word of God ; in which it prohibits public worship 
of Jesus Christ as a part of the educational process. 

"You cannot take a compulsory secular education- 
and produce in any adequate degree, a product whose 
main specialty is its Christian life. This is more evi- 
dent when you remember that the production of a 
consecrated Christian character is not a matter of 
course in any institution anywhere. Take the most 
definitely Christian institution, with a godly president, 
with a consecrated faculty, with the trustees devoted 
to God's Word; let me assure you that in such an 
institution it must be a matter of constant prayer and 
of daily struggle if the student body is to be held loyal 
to Jesus Christ. How dare the Church expect then 
an adequate supply of servants of Jesus Christ, from 



258 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

institutions out of which any of the influences of the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ are to any degree shut away? 

"But another conviction is growing in the heart 
of the Church, I mean the conviction that Christian 
education need not be, in any honest sense, sectarian. 
The Church begins to see that its educational mission 
is not the making of Presbyterians, but of Christians ; 
consecrated servants of God." 

After Dr. Dickson's earnest speech president Hodg- 
man delivered his inaugural address from which such 
excerpts as indicate his views on college problems 
and policies are selected: 

"It may not be out of place, indeed, it is usually ex- 
pected, that an inaugural address shall be a kind of 
confession of faith or declaration of principles which 
may serve as a program of expectations. 

"I am not a prophet and therefore do not know what 
God has in store for Macalester. I have no program 
of promises to promulgate because of a wholesome 
respect for the compelling power of times and seasons. 
I prefer to let present plans point the finger of proph- 
ecy and out of my daily habits and traits of character 
• to construct my confession of faith. 

"I believe that the chief end of a trustee is to raise 
money and spend it. I would I had the ability to re- 
lieve them of part of this burden but until time brings 
acquaintance and acquaintance brings confidence Macal- 
ester College must continue to lean hard upon its noble, 
generous trustees. It was repeatedly told me, and ex- 
perience has proven its' truth, that the crowning glory 



DR. HODGMAN'S ADMINISTRATION. 259 

of Macalester is its body of self-sacrificing, devoted 
trustees. Would that the burden now resting so heav- 
ily on a few might be made easier by being equally 
shared by all. For the sake of those who died that 
Macalester might live, for the faculty who have en- 
dured poverty and dire distress, for the alumni to whom 
Alma Mater gave intellectual and spiritual birth, for 
the students who cling to her with such affection and 
loyalty, for the honor of these Twin Cities, for the 
glory of the Church in the great Northwest and for 
the service of God, I beseech these stewards of' a great 
trust to complete Macalester's half million endowment 
before another Commencement sun shall arise. Here 
where God has made a country of wondrous scenic 
beauty and man has made a town of commanding im- 
portance, at the Gate-Way of the great Northwest, at 
the heart of a lusty dominant Presbyterianism, in a 
soil rich with the blood of the martyr heroes, Macal- 
ester stands waiting for the golden key that shall un- 
lock the door to a larger life and usefulness. 

"I believe that the chief end of a faculty is to teach. 
No more heroic and unassuming sacrifice has been ex- 
hibited than that of the faculty of Macalester in its 
days of adversity. They stood by it in the dark days 
and should be rewarded when the bright days come. 
In those days when they were of necessity forced to 
assume certain executive and clerical duties of which 
we are now endeavoring to relieve them so that 
their full time and energies can be put into instruc- 
tion proper. 



26o MACALESTER COLLEGE. i 

"The moral life of Macalester must ever be a re- 
flection of the standards of the faculty and the major- 
ity of the students. There must be just legislation, 
firm and impartial administration, punctuality in re- 
ports, fair and honest business dealings, absolute per- 
formance of promises by faculty and students. Al- 
though the receipts from tuition are not a tenth of the 
expense, a college should not for this reason pauperize 
its students nor fail to teach just business principles 
and respect for property rights. 

"The social life of Macalester is unique. I have 
never witnessed such close friendship as exists here 
between members of the faculty, between faculty and 
students and between the members of the student-body. 
These delightful social relations must not be destroyed 
but be refined and conventionalized. 

"I believe that cleanliness is next to Godliness, and 
therefore Macalester must be swept and scrubbed and 
sweetened in every nook and corner. 

"I believe that order is Heaven's first law, that there 
should be a place for everything and everything in its 
place, that there should be a time for everything and 
everything on time, that an important end of educa- 
tion is training in orderly living and prompt respect 
for the rights of others. 

"I believe that God helps those who help themselves. 
That a stronger faculty, better discipline and order, 
better equipment and business methods will bring more 
and better students and that this broadened and deep- 
ened influence will speedily bring courage to the dis- 



DR. HODGMAN'S ADMINISTRATION. 261 

couraged ones, confidence to the doubting ones and 
help from sources now hesitating. Such being my 
hope I beseech every alumnus and friend and every 
loyal Presbyterian in the Synod to win for Macalester 
new students and new friends. 

"Here endeth my confession of faith. 

"In conclusion permit me to turn with you for a 
moment to the contemplation of the inspiring position 
which Christian College education is assuming in this 
20th century. 

"Every age sounds a dominant note or is character- 
ized by some special feature. I cannot believe that 
the 20th Century will be chiefly known in history by 
the revival of Christian^ faith, deep and strong as this 
revival seems destined to be; nor by the triumphs of 
democracy for these are rather the beating on distant 
shores of a tide which reached its height in the preced- 
ing century; moreover the tremor of a reaction is 
already in the air; nor by the wonders of science for 
these are applications of principles which the 19th 
century discovered and explained; nor by the evils 
of huge combinations of capitals for these seem des- 
tined soon to be reined and curbed. 

"No! the signs of the times seem to me rather to 
indicate that this century will be characterized as the 
College Age. The proofs of this are many and con- 
vincing. College education is becoming popular. 

"Educators are looking to the small Christian Col- 
lege for the salvation of the general culture college 
course — a prerequisite to the highest professional sue- 



262 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

cess. Three out of every five of our successful men 
and women are college graduates and of these success- 
ful college graduates twelve per cent come from the 
state universities and sixty-seven per cent from the 
small college. Lastly, eighty-five per cent of the at- 
tendance of every college — even Harvard and Yale — 
comes from the immediate locality in which that col- 
lege is situated." 

President Hodgman was fortunate in coming to 
Macalester at a time when its Board of Trustees con- 
sisted of such splendid men as serve on it today. 
Their names suggest efficiency in business, thorough- 
ness m scholarship, catholicity of views and devotion 
to the highest interest of humanity. To be supported 
by such men is a guarantee of success. But even with 
the backing of the trustees the presidency is no sine- 
cure. 

Dr. Hodgman's policies are still in process of exe- 
cution, and only a bare outline of his work can be 
given. The wisdom of his management must be judged 
in the light of later developments. 

As the college had suffered from poverty since its 
very beginning, certain evils had to be endured and 
some policies be practiced which were at variance with 
its ideals. During the prolonged struggle for the 
existence of the college, the physical plant was neg-« 
lected. To save it a thorough overhauling was neces- 
sary and not less than eight thousand dollars have 
been spent for repairs alone. 

Macalester so far had lacked the convenience of a 




> 
> 

H 

M 
r 

M 
H 



a 




DR. HODGMAN'S ADMINISTRATION. 363 

central office in which the president, the dean, and 
the registrar were within access for, all who had mat- 
ters of business to arrange with these officials. The 
installment of such an office greatly faciHtated a more 
effective business-like management of the institution. 
The boarding clubs have been made self-support- 
ing while under the general supervision of the trus- 
tees. 

The curriculum has been strengthened by adding to 
the number of electives and by placing all courses, ex- 
cepting Bible, on an equal credit basis of four recita- 
tions a week instead of two and three hour recitations. 
New electives in Science, History, Economics and 
Manual Training were oifered. 

To the academy separate quarters have been given 
and the undergraduate instruction eliminated. Only 
teachers of experience, graduated from reputable col- 
leges, now constitute its faculty. In recognition of 
the character of its work the Preparatory Department, 
or the Baldwin School, as it should be called, has been 
elected into membership of the Association of 
Northwestern High Schools and Academies. The 
Baldwin School has been an excellent feeder to the 
college, not less than 94 of the alumni having received 
their preparatory education in the academy. 

A new interest in clean college sports has been fos- 
tered and under the coaching of Professor Plummer, 
excellent results have been achieved. 



264 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Since the resignation of Rev. A. E. Dris- 
coU, in June, 1907, the college has had no 
financial agent canvassing the churches for cur- 
rent expenses or soliciting students. The policy 
of the trustees now is to make the institution its own 
advertisement. This plan has been remarkably success- 
ful so far, considering the equipment of the college. 
The attendance for college and academy has grown 
from two hundred and ten in 1907, to three hundred 
and ten in 1910. But the lack of a fiscal secretary 
has obliged the president to give much of his time 
to duties otherwise performed by such an agent. Dr. 
Hodgman is the first president of Macalester to give 
all of his time to the administrative work of the college. 

Inasmuch as former presidents were obliged to do 
considerable teaching in connection with their exec- 
utive duties, they were sometimes unable to do full 
justice to administrative affairs. Dr. Hodgman has 
aimed to give the college a thorough business-like ad- 
ministration and to make Macalester more than ever 
synonymous for excellent scholarship and broad train- 
ing. 

President Hodgman's regime will be noted for three 
features. First, as the period in which the college se- 
cured new, modern buildings. Of these beautiful 
Wallace Hall, and the Carnegie Science Hall already 
stand. Secondly, as the time in which the endow- 
ment was completed, which means a great material 
increase. Thirdly, it is the period in which the cur- 



DR. HODGMAN'S ADMINISTRATION. 265 

riculum has been strengthened and the student en- 
rollment has become the largest in the history of Mac- 
alester college. Such an auspicious beginning prom- 
ises great things for the future. Macalester's Mission 
is not yet fulfilled, the college has only begun its work. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



SUCCESSIVE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF 

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 

1885-1910. 

FACULTY MEMBERS, COLLEGE YELLS, COL- 
LEGE SONGS AND STATISTICS. 

PRESIDENTS OF THE BOARD. 

Retired 



1885 


Hon. C. E. Vanderberg 


1887 


1887 


Rev. J. C. Whitney 


1893 


1893 


Rev. J. B. Donaldson 


1897 


1897 


Thomas H. Dickson 


1901 


I90I 


Prof. Thomas Shaw 

SECRETARY. 




1885 


William M. Tenny 


1893 


1893 


B. F. Wright 


1904 


1905 


B. H. Schriber 

TREASURER. 




1885 


Joseph McKibben 


1887 


1887 


George F. McAfee 


1889 


1889 


H. K. Taylor 


1891 


I89I 


Rev. D. E. Platter 


1893 


1893 


H. K. Taylor 


1900 


1900 


C. E. McKean 





FACULTY, MEMBERS, ETC. o^t 

MEMJ3ERS OF THE BOARD. 



i88s 


C. E. Vanderburg 


1887 


i88s 


Eugene M. Wilson 


^1890 


1885 


Rev. Joseph C. Whitney 


1896 


1885 


H. Knox Taylor 


190I 


1885 


Thomas Cochran 


1898 


1885 


Henry J. Horn 


1893 


188s 


B. F. Wright 


1898 


1885 


William C. Baker 


1886 


1885 


Rev. Daniel Rice 


*i889 


1885 


William M. Tenney 


1897 


1885 


Hon. Alexander Ramsey 


1894 


1885 


R. P. Lewis 


1893 


1885 


Henry L. Moss 


*I902 


1885 


William McNair 


*i885 


1885 


Rev. Robert F. Sample 


1886 


1886 


William S. Best 


1887 


1886 


Rev. David J. Burrell 


1893 


1886 


Charles T. Thompson 


1900 


1890 


Andrew B. Robbins 


1892 


1890 


A. M. Reid 


1892 


1891 


f C. E. Vanderburgh 


1894 


1892 


W. C. Sherwood 


1893 


1892 


Thomas H. Dickson 


1901 


1892 


Rev. J. B. Donaldson 


1897 


1892 


Charles T. Rittenhouse 


1892 


1892 


T. D. Simonton 


1892 


1892 


Thomas E. Yerxo 


1894 


1893 


Rev. Thomas H. Cleland 


1908 


*Died in 


that year. 





268 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 



1893 


Rev. Alexander N. Carson 


1906 


1894 


Geo. D. Dayton 




1894 


Rev. F. W. Sneed 


1896 


1895 


W. C. Edwards 


1898 


1895 


S. M. Kirkwood 


1898 


1895 


Rev. Pleasant Hunter 


1898 


1896 


Rev. R. N. Adams 


1898 


1896 


Rev. John Pringle 


1897 


1897 ^ 


Rev. John B. Helmig 


1898 


1897 


. Rev. W. C. Covert 


1899 


1897 


Hon. Thomas Wilson 


1899 


1897 


Rev. F. W. Fraser 


1900 


1900 


W. H. Dunwoody 


1900 


1900 


R. C. Jefferson 




1900 


R. A. Kirk 




1900 


C. E. MacKean 


1907 


1900 


J. P. Gordon 


1902 


1900 


Rev. Murdock McLeod 


1903 


1900 


Rev. J. C. Faries 


1905 


1900 


Rev. A. B. Meldrum 


1902 


1900 


Rev. C. T. Burnley 


1904 


I90I 


Rev. R. L. Barackman 


1903 


I90I 


Rev. C. Harmon Johnson 


1902 


1901 


Rev. R. L. Barackman 


1903 


I90I 


Rev. C. Harmon Johnson 


1902 


I90I 


Rev. Henry Schlosser 


1904 


I90I 


Edw. A. Webb 


1902 


I90I 


Judge R. N. Caruthers 


1901 





FACULTY, MEMBERS, ETC. 


269 


IQOI 


B. S. Cook 


1906 


I90I 


Rev. John E. Bushnell 




I9OI 


Rev. George W. Davis 


1906 


I9OI 


Thomas B. Janney 




19OI 


A. R. Chace 





1902 


George W. Wishard 




1902 


M. B. Hutchinson 


1906 


1902 


Stewart Gamble 


1907 


1903 


Rev. A. B. Marshall 




1903 


A. B. Morse 


1905 


1903 


Rev. W. H. W. Boyle 


1907 


1903 


J. W. Cooper 


1909 


1903 


B. H. Schriber 




1904 


W. A. Funk 


1905 


1905 


A. D. Thomson 




1906 


0. A. Robertson 




1907 


Rev. H. C. Swearingen 




1907 


Rev. A. E. Driscoll 





SUCCESSIVE MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY, 
PRESIDENTS OF MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Rev. Edward Duffield Neill, D. D., 1873-1884, be- 
fore the opening of the College. 

Rev. Thomas A. McCurdy, D. D., 1884-1890. 

Rev. David James Burrell, D. D., 1890-1891. 

Rev. Adam Weir Ringland, D. D., 1892-1894. 

James Wallace, Ph. D., LL. D., acting president, 
1894-1900; president, 1900-1906. 

Thomas Morey Hodgman, LL., D., 1907 — . 



270 AlACALESTER COLLEGE. 

PROFESSOR OF GREEK LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. 

Elected. Retired. 
1885 Rev. Nathaniel S. McFetridge, f 1886. 



1886 


James Wallace 


1906I 


1894 


Lester D. Brown 


1897 


1897 


John P. Hall, Adjunct. Prof. 


1903 


1903 


Frederick Axtell 


1905 


1906 


John P. Hall 




PROFESSOR OF LATIN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. 


1885 


Francis Pearson 


1891 


T89I 


Edward Collins Downing 






PROFESSOR OF MENTAL SCIENCE AND 


LOGIC. 


1885 


Rev. William R. Kirkwood 


1890 


1890 


Rev. John Woods 


189I 


189I 


Andrew Work Anderson 




PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS AND ASTRONOMY. 


1885 






1887 


James H. Boyd 


1890 


1890 


George B. Covington 


189I 


189I 


James H. Boyd 


1892 


1892 


William Paul Kirkwood 


1893 


1893 


Frank K. Pingry 


1893 


1894 


John J. Trask 


1896 


1896 


D. Newton Kingery 

PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH. 




1885 


Edward D. Neill 


ti893 


1893 


Rev. George W. Davis 


1896 


1897 


Mrs. Julia M. Johnson 





FACULTY, MEMBERS, ETC. 271 
GERMAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. 

1887 Charles A. Winter, Instructor 1890 

1890 Rev. Nicolaus Bolt, Instructor 1891 

1891 William Morgenstern, Instructor 1892 

1892 William Bradford Turner, Instructor 1894 

1894 Mrs. Abbie M. Trask, Instructor 1895 

1895 Lester D. Brown, Instructor 1897 

1896 Charlotte M. C. Mead 1897 

1897 Rev. William C. Laube . 1898 

1898 Rev. Henry D. Funk 

1907 Miss Margaret King Moore 1908 

1908 Mrs. Agnes Perkins _ 1909 

1909 Rev. W. H. Klose 

BIBLICAL LITERATURE. 

1885 President T. A. McCurdy 1890 

1887 Rev. Daniel Rice ti890 

1890 Rev. M. L. P. Hill 1891 

1^91 Rev. Geo. W. Davis 1899 

1S91 Dr. James Wallace 1899 

1903 Rev. Archibald Cardie 1907 

1909 Dr. James Wallace 

DEPARTMENT OF ORATORY. 

1900 Grace B. Whitridge 

NATURAL SCIENCES. 

1885 Charles Forbes 1890 

1890 John H. Cook 1891 

1 891 Samuel M. Kirkwood 1892 

1892 William P. Kirkwood 1893 
1895 D. Newton Kingery 1901 



272 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY. 

1 90 1 R. U. Jones until 1906 and from 

1906 taught Chemistry and Mathematics. 

PHYSICS AND GEOLOGY. 

1906 Hugh Alexander 

BIOLOGY. 

1907 F. W. Plummer 

JOURNALISM. 

1908 W. p. Kirkwood 

APOLOGETICS. 



1885 


T. A. McCurdy 


1890 


1892 


A. W. Ringland 


1894 


1907 


F. D. MacRae 

MUSIC SCHOOL. 




1895 


H. E. Phillips 




1907 


George H. Fairclough 




1908 
1 908 


James A. Bliss 
Bessie A. Godkin 


1909 



FACULTY, MEMBERS, ETC 273 

STUDENTS IN COLLEGE CLASSES AT MACALESTER 
COLLEGE, 1885-1910. 



YEARS 



1885- 6. 

1886- 7. 

1887- 8. 

1888- 9. 
1889-90. 

1890- 1. 

1891- 2. 

1892- 3. 

1893- 4. 

1894- 5. 

1895- 6. 

1896- 7. 

1897- 8. 

1898- 9. 
1899-00. 

1900- 1 . , 

1901- 2., 

1902- 3. . 

1903- 4.. 

1904- 5.. 

1905- 6. . 

1906- 7.. 

1907- 8.. 

1908- 9. . 
1909-10. . 



a 



6^ 



6 
8 
7 
15 
14 
14 
14 
8 
20 
16 
20 
6 
35 
18 
20 
23 
18 
18 
26 
37 
27 
38 
32 
57 
57 



o 

n 
o 
m 



8 
9 
9 
8 
11 
7 
11 
4 
17 
15 
17 
7 
18 
12 
20 
14 
13 
11 
19 
28 
14 
28 
22 
42 



10 
5 
4 
6 
6 

12 
5 

11 

13 

17 
9 

11 

10 

16 

13 

13 

13 

19 

22 

10 
25 
17 



10 
7 
6 

2 
6 

10 
6 

11 

12 

14 

10 

13 

11 

17 

11 

14 

11 

19 

22 

5 
27 






11 
19 
24 



o 



6 
18 
25 
44 
34 
35 
27 
27 
42 
49 
52 
47 
71 
61 
59 
70 
61 
62 
64 
90 
85 

101 

103 

128 

167 



By " left" is meant those who 
out during the school year. 



03 

-a 
O 



10 
7 
5 

2 
6 
9 
3 
11 
10 
13 
10 
13 
10 
16 
10 
13 
11 
19 
21 
5 
28 



14 
4 
8 
4 
4 
5 
7 
5 
3 
21 
13 
2 
13 
5 
9 
7 
19 
19 
21 
24 
34 



did not return as well as those who dropped 



374 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

STUDENTS IN THE ACADEMY, 1885-1910. 



YEARS 


Senior 


Junior 


Sopho- 
more 


Fresh- Spe 
man 


cial 


Commer- 
cial 
Students 


1885- 6 


7 


18 






27 


. 






1886- 7 


15 


35 






15 


• 






1887- 8 


24 


20 






17 








1888- 9 


18 


16 






27 


5 






1889-90 


14 


27 






12 


5 






1890- 1 


28 


20 






10 








1891- 2 


15 


17 






10 








1892- 3 


18 


24 






18 








1893- 4 


17 


19 






21 








1894- 5 


9 


18 






10 








1895- 6 


15 


32 






22 








1896- 7 


25 


17 






15 








1897- 8 


14 


21 






20 








1898- 9 


21 


20 






25 








1899-00 


19 


26 






28 








1900- 1 


25 


35 






20 


9 






1901- 2 


4 


16 


19 


21 1 


9 






1902- 3 


18 


24 


30 


24 








1903- 4 


29 


33 


22 


22 1 


9 






1904- 5 


22 


23 


22 


18 2 


1 






1905- 6 


18 


27 


29 


15 1 


8 






1906- 7 


15 


20 


16 


28 1 


5 


10 


1907- 8 


21 


15 


13 


39 1 


3 


13 


1908- 9 


17 


20 


19 


45 5 


8 


19 


1909-10 


21 


16 


34 


33 c 


S9 


•• 



FACULTY, MEMBERS, ETC. 275 

THE OLDEST MACALESTER. 

COLLEGE SONG. 
(To the tune of "Solomon Levi.") 

We have a thriving College in the mammoth Gopher State, 
Where students in their work and play with joy are all elate; 
They have their fun throughout the term to lighten up the toil, 
But in examination week they burn the midnight oil. 

Chorus. 

Sing all in chorus, gaily let us sing; 

Sing all in chorus, tra-la-la-la-la, etc. 

(Repeat verse.) 

n. 

Midway between the centers of the Twins the place is found. 
Where no saloons nor gambling dens with vice and sin abound. 
Macalester the place is called; let everybody sing; 
Let praises sound from shore to shore and make the welkin 
ring. 

Chorus- 
IIL 
Here all the Muses love to dwell within these classic walls, 
For peace and order always reign; no noise within the halls. 
But as we court the Muses dear till brains are in a whirl 
They're all old maids, and we prefer to court a pretty girl. 

Chorus. 
MACALESTER. 
The R. C. Jefiferson Prize Song written by Rev. 
Prof. W. C. Laube, ^01. 

(To the tune of "The Watch on the Rhine.") 

Macalester, to thee we sing, 
From joyful hearts our praises ring: 
Send out thy light through all the world 
And keep the flag of Truth unfurled. 

Chorus : 
Macalester, Macalester, 
Shine on, shine on, thou Northern Star. 
Our hopes, our prayers are all, are all with thee. 
God keep thee strong and pure and true and free ! 

Chorus : 

A beacon light in Freedom's land, 
A monument to truth you stand, 
A bulwark strong of liberty, 
A blessing to humanity. 



276 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Chorus : 

Shine brightly on, thou Northern Star, 
Shed truth and wisdom near and far; 
God keep thee loyal, true and free, 
And spread thy fame from sea to sea! 
Chorus : 

COLLEGE SONG. 
(To be sung to the tune of "The Russian National Anthem.") 

Dear old Macalester, 

Ever the same 

To those whose hearts are thrilled 

By thy dear name. 

Cherished by all thy sons, 

Loved by all thy daughters, 

Hail, hail to thee 

Our College dear 

We are in word and deed 

Thy champions. 

For thee we'll fight and pray 

In all thy need ; 

Forward to prominence, 

March forever forward, 

Hail, hail to thee 

Our College dear 

Thy name shall ever be 

Our guiding star; 

Thy children shall proclaim 

Thine honor far. 

Ever our hearts to thee 

Cling with deep affection. 

Hail, hail to thee 

Macalester, 

By Bertelle Barker, '09. 

COLLEGE YELLS USED UNTIL 1900. 
Rah-Rah-Rah ! 
Mac-al-est-er 
Great North-west-er 

Rah-Rah-Rah ! 

* * * 

Rah-Rah-Ree 
Rah-Rah-Ree 
Macalester Macalester 
M-A-C 
Hoo-Rah-Mac! 

* * * 



FACULTY, MEMBERS, ETC. 277: 

Mac-Mac-Mac-al-est-er ! 
Great-Great-Great North-west-er ! 
She-She-She's the Best-er! 
SEE ! ! ! 
COLLEGE YELLS SINCE 1900. 



Chi- HE, Chi-HA! 
Chi-HA, HA, ha! 
Macalester, Macalester, 

rah ! RAH ! RAH ! 



Iji iTTiki, Ki yi yip. 
Mac, mac, Mac, mac. Rip, Rip, Rip ! 
KANakeena wah, wah, KANakeena tah, 
GO it, Mac, GO it Mac, rah, rah, rah ! 

Rah, Rah, rah. Rah, ree ! 
MacAlester, MacAlester,, m-a-c! 
Hoo-Rah-Mac ! 

Graduate and Professional Students 16 

Clergymen °3 

Missionaries ^7 

In Business • • • • ^3 

Physicians " 

Lawyers " 

Professors in Colleges and Seminaries. 9 

Editors 5 

Librarian ^ 

Public School Teachers 40 

College Presidents 2 

Women at Home 12 

Deceased 10 

Senior Class 1910 2° 

258 

Counted twice 27 

Total 231 

Of 231 Macalester alumni 54 are women 



278 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

HONORARY DEGREES. 

CONFERRED BY MACALESTER. 

No honorary degrees were given by Macalester 
College before 1901. Since then the following de- 
grees were conferred : 

1 901 : D. D. on Rev. Charles Thayer, Ph. D., Min- 
neapolis, Minn. 
D. D. on Rev. George W. Davis, Ph. D., St. 
Paul, Minn. 

1902: D. D. on Rev. H. F. Stilwell, First Baptist 
Church, St. Paul, Minn. 

D. D. on Rev. J. Le Moyne Danner, Yonkers, 
N. Y. 
LL. D. on Hon. Thomas Wilson, St. Paul, 

Minn. 
1903 : D. D. on Rev. Joseph Cochran, Macalester, '89, 

Philadelphia, Pa. 
1904 : D. D. on Rev. Stanley B. Roberts, Minneapolis, 

Minn. 
1904: M. A. on Myron A. Clark, Macalester, '90, 

Rio Janeiro, Brazil. 
1905: D. D. on Rev. Charles F. Hubbard, Auburn, 

New York. 
1906: D. D. on Rev. Donald D. McKay, Tacoma, 

Wash. 
1907: D. D. on Rev. Archibald Cardie, Macalester, 

'94, Burlington, Iowa. 



FACULTY, MEMBERS, ETC. af9 




This Seal of Macalester College was devised by 
Dr. Neill. In a sermon preached before the Synod 
of Minnesota in September, 1873, he explained its 
significance : On the corporate seal of the institution 
are engraved two female figures, one in classic drap- 
ery, telescope in hand and compass at the feet, repre- 
senting Science investigating the laws of Nature; 
the other in sitting posture and modern dress holding 
the open word of God, representing Revelation. They 
are in friendly converse, the twin sisters of Heaven, 
as the motto suggests, "Natura et Revelatio, coeli 
gemini." After the college became a synodical institu- 
tion the trustees adopted the seal October 19, 1881. 

COLLEGE COLORS. 

March 2'/, 1889, Drs. Kirkwood and Wallace were 
appointed a committee to select college colors. April 
8th, 1889, the committee reported, recommending Blue 
and Orange. The report was adopted.^ 

^Minutes of the Faculty Book I, P. 184. 



CHAPTER XV. 
The Need of Macalester. 

The test of the value of an educational institution 
is in the record of its actual achievements. What is 
the character and work of its graduates? Macal- 
ester College is young, but in its educational prod- 
uct it is worthy of emulation by older institutions. 
In the Christian ministry, in school and in the pro- 
fessional walks of life its influence for good is felt. 

Twenty-five years ago it was said Macalester is 
not needed; today its existence is vindicated by 
the young men and women who have gone forth from 
its walls. 

It is said that the Revolutionary War was sup- 
ported by only one-third of the American people. 
One third of the colonists were loyal to England 
and opposed to separation from the crown, and an- 
other third was coldly indifferent to the question 
at issue. ^ Yet when liberty had been won and when 
the blessings of freedom were enjoyed many, who 
had declared the Revolutionary War a folly, were hap- 
py to ask for the privileges secured by the minority. 
Today Macalester's friends are numerous and 
no one acquainted with its history will assert that 
it is not needed. Some who opposed its establish- 

iHart, Formation of the Union, p. 71. 



THE NEED OF MACALESTER. 281 

ment and some who were indifferent to it now rec- 
ognize its merits and are its supporters. 

That Macalester's mission may be better understood, 
it is proper to recall the particular conditions in the 
church, leading to its establishment. Since 1880 the 
Presbyterian church has suffered a dearth of min- 
isters. The Western states, in which state institu- 
tions existed, furnished only a small quota of candi- 
dates for the ministry. In 1883-4, there were 1147 
vacant churches of which one hundred and thirty- 
five had memberships of between one hundred and 
three hundred. During that year fully three hun- 
dred ministers from other denominations were sup- 
plying pulpits in the Presbyterian church. In 1884 
there was a net increase of ministers in the Presby- 
terian church of only one hundred and twenty-six 
and of that number eighty-five, that is over two- 
thirds, were drawn from other denominations. It 
dismissed to sister denominations only twenty-nine.^ 
From a total of five thousand nine hundred and 
seventy-three churches enrolled in 1885, one thou- 
sand two hundred and one were vacant, a larger 
number than ever before. Nearly four hundred of 
these showed a membership and a financial ability 
that warranted the entire services of a minister.^ 
During 1889 the Presbyterian church received one 
hundred and twenty-five ministers from other de- 

»Minutes of the General Assembly, 1884, P. loo-i 
^Minutes of the General Assembly, 1885. P. 769-70. 



282 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

nominations, and in 1900 there were altogether one 
thousand one hundred and forty-eight vacant 
churches.^ 

What should the church do under these circum- 
stances? Organize less rapidly? Gather up the unem- 
ployed from all sources, Methodists, Baptists, Epis- 
copalians, from England, Scotland and Canada? Or 
should it seek out the Christian boys at home and 
in school and college and make its appeal to them? 
The church was persuaded that the wisest policy was 
to provide for the supply of the Presbyterian min- 
istry by securing young men who were brought up 
as Presbyterians and were in thorough sympathy with 
the doctrine and polity of the church. 

When it was proposed to establish a Presbyterian 
college in Minnesota many said: "Why this waste 
of money? Carleton College, the State University, 
and Hamline can do all the work that you expect 
of your own denominational institution." But what 
had these very institutions contributed to the work- 
ing force of the Presbyterian church before Macal- 
ester had a graduating class, and what have they 
done since then? How does Macalester's contribu- 
tion to the Christian ministry for the Presbyterian 
church compare with that of the above named in- 
stitutions ? 

Carleton College was founded by Congregation- 
alists and is the institution particularly recognized 

iThe Church at Home and Abroad, Feb. 1890, pp. 158- 
257. 



THE NEED OF MACALESTER. 283 

and supported by that denomination. It gradu- 
ated its first class in 1874, fifteen years before Ma- 
calester had a commencement; but not one of its 
graduates entered the Presbyterian ministry in 
those years. Its contribution to the Presbyterian 
ministry from 1870 to 1910, a period of forty years, 
is one minister, and he is the son of a Congrega- 
tional pastor. 

The State University commands our admiration. 
It is a splendid institution and has many excellent 
Christian men in its faculty. It is well patronized 
by the Presbyterian church and not less than six of 
Macalester college's faculty hold diplomas from the 
University. But only a few of its students have en- 
tered the ranks of the Presbyterian ministry. The 
writer has had the kind assistance of the Secretary 
of the General Alumni Association of the University 
of Minnesota in ascertaining how many University 
alumni have devoted themselves to the service of 
the Presbyterian church. The University reckons 
its alumni from the year 1870, nineteen years be- 
fore Macalester graduated its first class. From that 
time until 19 10, a period of forty years, the Univer- 
sity has graduated seven young men who have en- 

*Desiring correct information on this matter I wrote to 
the authorities of Carleton asking them how many of their 
alumni had entered the mmistry of the Presbyterian Church. 
The letter in answer to my inquiry stated that neither the 
president nor the professor of history at Carleton could give 
the information desired, but that a printed list of the alumni 
of that college would be sent to me, from which I might be 
able to ascertain the facts asked for. The result of my in- 
vestigation is as stated above. 



284 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

tered the ministry of the Presbyterian church. One 
young man, a graduate of the Agricultural School 
is a teacher in an Industrial Mission School in Af- 
rica, and one young woman, an ex-student of the 
University is married to a missionary among the 
Mexicans. Altogether nine young people having been 
educated at the State University are now devoting 
themselves to christian work under the care of the 
Presbyterian church. Hamline University to some 
extent, also, has been patronized by Presbyterian <?. 
But not one of its alumni has devoted himself to 
work under the auspices of the Presbyterian church. 
These three institutions, each of which existed long 
before Macalester was opened, have furnished te^ ps 
ministers or missionaries. The surprising thing is 
that the University has done so much better than the 
other two denominational colleges in training young 
men and women for service in the Presbyterian 
church. 

Now let us see what Macalester has meant 
to the church to which it looks for support. 
From a total of two hundred and three who had 
graduated, by 1909 ninety-two have given them- 
selves to active service for the Presbyterian church 
as pastors and missionaries. Four students who did 
not complete the full college course went as mis- 
sionaries to foreign fields; eight who did not re- 
ceive diplomas from the college, although some of them 



THE NEED OF MACALESTER. 285 

spent the larger part of the senior year at Macalester, 
are now pastors or Sunday School missionaries. 
This makes a total of one hundred and four in active 
service for the Presbyterian church. Six young men are 
in Seminaries and eight of the class of 1910 will enter 
Theological Seminaries next fall, having the ministry 
in view. These added to the one hundred and four 
raise the total contribution of Macalester to the work- 
ing force of the Presbyterian church to one hundred 
and eighteen as compared to nine from the University 
and one from Carleton. But Macalester has furn- 
ished Christian ministers for other denominations also. 
Four of its graduates are pastors in the Baptist Church, 
and one, J. G. Gotaas, ex- 1906, is a missionary for the 
same denomination in Africa. One is pastor of the 
Swedish Mission in Minneapolis; one is pastor of a 
Dutch Reformed church; one has received orders in 
the Church of England; one, a member of the class 
of 1910 expects to be a minister in the Lutheran 
church, and one ex '06 is a pastor of a Christian 
church. One hundred and twenty-eight young men 
and women who have consecrated themselves to the 
Christian ministry. Such is the contribution of Macal- 
ester college to the forces of the Christian church. 

This remarkable result is due to the force of spirit- 
ual environment which is maintained at the Christian 
college. It is perfectly natural that an institution 
which aims wisely and persistently to cultivate Chris- 



386 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

tian character should find such a product in its 
students. 

Is it not a fact worthy of particular notice, that since 
1906 the Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Min- 
isterial Education, Dr. Joseph Cochran, is an alumnus 
of Macalester of the class of 1889? Singularly 
enough, he is the man, too, who has aroused the Gen- 
eral Assembly to a sense of the responsibility of the 
church for looking after the spiritual interests of the 
young men and women from Presbyterian homes at- 
tending state universities. Through his influence the 
synods of Michigan and Illinois have provided Presby- 
terian homes and Presbyterian student pastors at Ann 
Arbor and Urbana. 

A brief account of what Macalester is doing for 
missions is of interest. 

The first one of Macalester's sons to enter upon 
Christian work in a foreign field was Myron A. Clark 
of the class of 1890. Mr. Clark went to Rio Janeiro 
in 1 89 1, devoting himself to Y. M: C. A. work among 
the Brazilians. In this work he has attained eminent 
success. He has become proficient in the use of the 
Portuguese languages, has translated a number of 
pamphlets into this tongue and has written a number 
ot original treatises in Portuguese. On numerous 
occasions he has been called upon to interpret for 
foreigners in public address, notably for John R. Mott, 
Robert E. Speer, Dr. Francis E. Clark, and Dr. Josiah 
Strong. Mr. Mott, one of the International Y. M. 



THE NEED OF MACALESTER. 387 

C. A. secretaries has expressed himself about Mr. 
Clark in these commendable terms : "I wish to bear 
testimony to the conspicuous strength and success of 
Myron A. Clark, our principal representative in Brazil. 
During our recent visit to that country we were deeply 
impressed by the many evidences of his statesman- 
like, tactful and genuinely spiritual work. Although 
he is one of the younger missionaries of that great 
country we found him to be one of the most influential. 
He has exerted a great unifying influence among the 
forces of Christianity. He has also succeeded in 
winning to a marked degree the confidence of the 
more influential classes of Brazilians. He has suc- 
ceeded in literally identifying himself with the people 
of the land of his adoption. This is high praise, but 
it is true and is deserved."^ In recognition of his 
literary attainments Macalester in 1904 conferred on 
him the degree of Master of Arts. 

For several years James Chase Hambleton, 
'89, was a missionary teacher at Santiago, Chili. In 
1895 he was located at Ancud, Chili; here he taught 
until 1901 when he returned to the United States. Since 
then he has been a teacher of Spanish in the East Side 
High School of Columbus, Ohio. 

John- Knox Hall, '90, after completing his Sem- 
inary course took up the work among the Porto 
Ricons. When his health became poor and he was 

^Letter to Dr. Wallace, Dec. 1905. 



288 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

obliged to return to the United States he found a 
work awaiting him among the Mexicans of Colorado. 

Another member of the class of 1890 who has 
honored his Alm.a Mater by the success that has at- 
tended his labors in missions is J. L. Underwood. 
While at Aguadilla, Porto Rico, he built up a congre- 
gation of over 300 members, a Sunday school of equal 
size, and erected a church building costing seven thou- 
sand dollars, furnished in true American style, has as- 
sociated with him two or three readers and assistants 
to help him carry on the work opened up in several 
out-stations. During 1908-9 he was in the United 
States on furlough. In order to broaden his theologi- 
cal training he pursued graduate work in Princeton 
Theological Seminary, where he received the degree 
of Bachelor of Divinity. In the fall of 1909 he re- 
turned to Porto Rico where he is continuing to do^ 
splendid work. 

Charles Petran, 1897, has spent ten years in the 
Republic of Mexico. His work has consisted largely 
in visiting the homes of the Mexicans, inviting them 
to come to church, visiting the sick and in helping in 
the educational work of the missions with which he 
has been connected. He has been stationed at Zacat- 
ecas, Aquascalientes and at Saltillo. The work, while 
naturally beset with difficulties, in a Roman Catholic 
state, has nevertheless made encouraging progress. 

Harry Clinton Schuler, '95, is Macalester's rep- 

^Bulletin, Dec. 1904. 



THE NEED OF MACALESTER. 289 

resentative in Persia. After a short pastorate in New 
York State he offered his services to the Board of 
Foreign missions which quickly accepted so talented a 
missionary. His first station was at Resht, but find- 
ing that there were other fields more difficult and 
opportunities to begin an entirely new work, he asked 
to be transferred to Teheran. Here he has founded a 
school for boys over which he presides. His work 
has been remarkably successful. 

Who does not like good-hearted, enthusiastic 
Paul Doeltz,'89? and who among the alumni is more 
devoted to his Alma Mater than our missionary to the 
Philippines? His zeal and perseverance, his faith 
and cheerfulness have won great triumphs for the 
gospel among the neglected little brown people of the 
Philippine Islands. He has an important part in 
the building of the Presbyterian Hospital at Ilo Ilo, 
and by his visits to the interior, preaching the gospel 
of Christ he has brought life and hope to many neg- 
lected souls. 

Of Macalester's sons three have been sent 
to Korea. Arthur G. Welbon and George Leek, both 
of the class of 1897 and Charles A. Clark, '99. Wel- 
bon and Leek sailed for Korea in 1900. No more 
persistent laborer on this important field can be named 
than Welbon. Death, due to smallpox, overtook 
Leek while on one of his missionary tours to the in- 
terior of Korea. The loss of a laborer so gifted and 
so consecrated was a hard blow for the Korean mis- 
sion. He is survived by his widow, nee Francis Oak- 



290 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

ley, and one son, who lived at Buffalo, Minnesota, since 
their return to America. Charles A. Clark, graduated 
with high honors from the Central High School of 
Minneapolis. After spending two years at the Uni- 
versity of Minnesota he came to Macalester. A 
natural student, fond of books and talented in lan- 
guages, his work has been chiefly of a literary character. 

He has translated the Bible, tracts and various 
kinds of Christian literature into the Korean language. 
In the christianization of Korea Macalester has a deep 
interest because its representatives are such important 
factors in that work. 

One of the most useful graduates of Macalester 
in building up God's kingdom on earth is Mary E. 
Rankin, '03. After completing her course of studies 
at Macalester she went to the Mountain Whites of 
Tennessee. Among those poor neglected people she 
has been a real angel of mercy. As a school teacher, 
kindergarten teacher, "deaconess, Bible reader, Sunday 
school superintendent, nurse and adviser and friend 
of all the needy. Dr. Wallace once said of her : *'The 
Lord certainly made a rare piece of humanity when 
he created Mary J. Rankin. But do not forget that 
the Lord chose Macalester to put on the finishing 
touches." 

In Siam are Mary Guy Shellman, '05, and her 
husband Dr. Carl Shellman, ex-'o5. Dr. Shellman is 
remembered by many of the alumni for his prowess 
as center on the famous football team of 1900. Dr. 
Shellman is in charge of a hospital at Pitsanluke, Siam, 



THE NEED OF MACALESTER. 291 

and Mrs. Shellman teaches the native girls how to 
perform the duties of a Christian home. Oftentimes 
she assists the Doctor as nurse at his operations. 

Henry J. Voskuil, '04, is a handy man, a carpenter, 
bricklayer, blacksmith, engineer, and a faithful man 
wherever he is placed. He is stationed at Amboy, 
China, where his mechanical skill quickly gave him a 
responsible position, as architect for the mission. 

Frank Throop, '06, is another Macalester alumnus 
engaged in China, being stationed at Soochaw. 

Among the natives of Alaska, Eugene Bromley, '05, 
Mrs. Martha Olsen-Bromley, '08, and Sarah Haines, 
'02 are doing a noble work. Mr. Bromley and Miss 
Haines teach in the academy at Sitka. Mr. Bromley 
is also the pastor of the American church of that 
place and Mrs. Bromley teaches the girls practical 
domestic science. 

Mrs. Margaret-Evans-Detweiler, '04, after spending 
several years in Ecuador was transferred to Porto 
Rico laboring under the auspices of the Baptist Mis- 
sionary Society. 

J. O. Gotaas, ex-'o4, went to Ikoko, Congo, in 
Africa, also under the care of the Baptist Church. 
Walter S. Lee who spent three years at Macalester 
from 1888-91 has been carrying on a successful work at 
Bogota, South America. Early in the nineties Laurie 
Nourse spent two years at Macalester. After leaving 
the college he completed a course at the Moody Bible 
Institute and then went to Cape Colony as a mis- 
sionary. 



292 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

The latest addition to the missionary forces from 
Macalester is James E. Detweiler, '06. Thus Mac- 
alester has reaHzed the expectations of the synod 
which adopted it in 1880. It has been a splendid re- 
cruiting agency for the ministry of the Presbyterian 
church. 

Many of the alumni have gone into other pro- 
fessions. As journalists, lawyers, physicians, educa- 
tors, business men or farmers, they perform an hon- 
orable part in the world's work. As the attendance 
grows the number of those who will follow secular pro- 
fessions will undoubtedly increase. But as this is the age 
of laymen's movements in the church such colleges as 
Macalester are needed more than ever to train skilled 
leaders for this new work of the church. 

Although Macalester has a record for splendid 
service to the church, the relation between the synod 
and the college has not always been very cordial. 
This is largely due to the embarrassing financial con- 
dition which the institution suffered during the first 
decade of its existence. But the lack of direct control 
on the part of the synod in the management and policy 
of the college, generally exercised by such a body 
over a denominational school, may have been respon- 
sible for some of this indifference. To bring about a 
closer and more friendly relationship between Mac- 
alester and the synod was one of the difficult problems 
ever before the trustees. July 7th, 1891, Mr. Henry 
Moss off'ered the following resolution which the Board 
adopted : 



THE NEED OF MACALESTER. 293 

"Whereas, It is apparent that a more cordial and 
sympathetic feeHng should exist between the member- 
ship of the Presbyterian Church of Minnesota and 
Macalester College, and that it is desirable that some 
action be had or system adopted by which the interests 
of the college can be brought into closer communion 
with those who should be patrons of the college. 
Therefore, Resolved that a committee of five be se- 
lected to consist of Rev. J. C. Whitney, H. J. Horn, 
Esq., C. T. Thompson, Esq., Rev. E. D. Neill and Pro- 
fessor Wallace to consider the policy of increasing the 
number of trustees, and changing the administration 
of the college upon the following basis. 

I. 'That the number of Trustees be increased to 
twenty-four, of which number fifteen shall be con- 
tinued and elected as now provided by the charter of 
this college ; that the additional number of nine shall 
hereafter be selected and recommended by the synod 
of Minnesota for on closer relation between synod 
and the college election by the Board and the same 
shall be classified in three divisions, so that three shall 
be elected each year to hold ofiice respectively for 
three years, and that the same be allotted as far as 
practicable so that each Presbytery in Minnesota shall 
be represented by at least one trustee. The said nine 
Trustees shall have equal rights and power to vote at 
all meetings of the Board and on all questions except 
the election to the succession of the Board as now 
constituted. 

II. That there shall be an executive committee of 



294 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

nine, selected annually from the full Board of Trus- 
tees, with full power to act upon all questions and 
matters pertaining to the executive and administrative 
powers of the college, six of said members to be 
selected from the members of the Board as now con- 
stituted, and their successors and three of said mem- 
bers from the additional members styled Synodical 
Trustees. That at all meetings of said Executive 
Committee five shall constitute a quorum with full 
power to transact business.^" 

This resolution w^as not carried out because the 
charter provisions did not permit it. 

The liquidation of the debt, improved facilities in 
library and laboratories, the strengthened faculty, the 
improvement of the college plant and the completion 
of the endowment have gradually brought about a 
much better attitude on the part of synod 
toward Macalester. The growth of the Church 
to a position of commanding influence war- 
rants the belief that in the future it will 
contribute liberally towards the development of the 
synodical college. According to the minutes of the 
synod for 1909 the Presbyterian Church in Minnesota 
had eight Presbyteries, a membership of twenty-six 
thousand five hundred and fifty-three, a Sunday School 
enrollment of thirty-two thousand eight hundred and 
sixty-eight, and contributed to the church boards one 
hundred and three thousand three hundred and thirty- 
nine dollars. 

^Record "B" Minutes of the Board of Trustees of Macal- 
ester College, July 7th, 1891. 



THE NEED OF MACALESTER. 295 

In view of its present standing and in recognition 
of the splendid service the college has rendered to the 
church during the first twenty-five years of its history, 
Macalester has a right to expect larger and more 
cordial support from the denomination under whose 
auspices it stands. 

Before closing this chapter a few lines should be 
given to an interpretation of the Macalester spirit. 
Every college or university has an atmosphere and a 
spirit peculiar to itself. While it is difficult, if not 
impossible, to describe the spirit of a college, its char- 
acter, nevertheless, is manifest through the actions 
and achievements of the faculty and the student body. 

Since its opening day Macalester has cherished 
sound and liberal learning. The hard-working, plod- 
ding student has not found himself put on the de- 
fensive because he tried to make the best use of his 
opportunities, but has ever commanded respect and 
honor. As a Christian institution, religion has been 
fostered, but not imposed. In the earnest, spontaneous 
religious activities of the students themselves another 
trait of the Macalester spirit is evident. 

Being a small college where all the students and the 
faculty come into close touch with one another the spirit 
of companionship and mutual helpfulness has linked 
students and faculty together in sincere friendship. 

Macalester is democratic. No social distinctions 
are found here and no "snobs" care to stay in such a 
place. Many students earn their way through college 
and have repeatedly illustrated the possibility of plain 
living and high thinking. 



2g6 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Several years ago the president of a Western col- 
lege was speaking to a graduate of another institution 
in the same state. The president remarked that he 
was surprised at the lack of interest graduates of that 
school had in their Alma Mater. The answer given 
after a few minutes' reflection was that it is impossible 
to become enthusiastic over brick and mortar alone. 
The devotion of Macalester's alumni to their college 
is intense, and the loyalty to the professors 
manifested during the critical period of the college's 
existence is a splendid proof of their high regard for 
the institution. 

This loyalty is further evident in the enthusiastic 
support the entire student body gives tO' Macalester's 
representatives in music, oratory or in football and 
baseball contests. 

An investigation recently made by professors An- 
derson and Downing shows that from 1899 to 1908 
three hundred and eighty-six students registered as 
freshmen and specials, and one hundred and forty- 
seven registered as seniors, giving as the ratio of the 
latter to the former 36.5 per cent. Similar ratios for 
Hamline equal to 32.6 per cent, and for Carleton 31.9 
per cent, showing that the number of students enter- 
ing Macalester and continuing on to graduation is 
larger than is the case with the two rival colleges named. 

The days of adversity are over. A bright era has 
begun. The future promises glorious progress. 
Managed by such men as constitute its Board of 
Trustees and the president of the college ; having 



FACULTY, MEMBERS, ETC 297 

gained the confidence of a critical business world and 

of a hopeful church ; with a Christian faculty, tried and 

true, scholarly and cultured ; with consecrated alumni 

who love their Alma Mater ; with a splendid location 

unsurpassed in attractiveness ; and with a history 

teaching lessons of faith, hope and courage, Macal- 

ester College completes its first quarter centennial and 

commends itself to the continued favor of God. 

QUARTER CENTENNIAL PROGRAM. 

June 1-8, Inclusive. 

Wednesday 

8 :oo p. M. Chapel Academy Play 

Thursday 

8 :oo p. M. Chapel Academy Commencement 

Friday 

8 :oo p. M. Chapel Student Music Recital 

Saturday 

8 :oo p. M. Chapel Senior Class Play 

Sunday 

10 130 A. M. Westminster Baccalaureate Sermon 

President G. E. MacLean, Iowa State Univesity. 

8 :oo p. M. House of Hope 

Alumni and Christian Ass'n Sermon 
Dr. James Wallace. 
Monday 

10 :oo A. M. Campus Class Day Exercises 

2:30 p. M. Shaw Field Fac.-Alumni Ball Game Lawn Fete 

8 :oo p. M. Chapel = Senior Class Play 

Second Rendition 
Tuesday 

2:00 p. M. Executive Office Annual Meeting of Trustees 

3:30 p. M. Shaw Field Hamline-Macalester Ball Game 

6:30 p. M. Wallace Hall Alumni Banquet 

Wednesday 
10-00 A. M. Central Presbyterian ... ^-^Commencement Address 
Dr. Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee Institute 

12 :30 p. M. Central Presbyterian tCollege Luncheon 

To Trustees, Faculty, Alumni, Pioneers, 
Parents, Guests, Students 

3:00 p. M. Campus Dedication Carnegie Science Hall 

4 :oo p. M. Selected Places Class Reunions 

8:00-10:00 P. M.. Wallace Hall President's Reception 

College and Public Invited 

♦Admission by Complimentary Ticket. tPlate 50 cents. 



298 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

INDEX. 

A 

Page 

Abbot, R. B 55, 73 

Academic Society 138 

Academy 263 

Albert Lea College 78, 81, 193 

Alexander, Hugh 201, 247, 

Alumni, See Chapter XV 280 

Anderson, A. W 197, 198 

Anniversary, Twenty-Fifth, i, 2, 297 

Antioch College 216 

Ariel, The 52 

Athenean Literary Society 246 

Athletics 263 

Axtell, Frederick 248 

B 

Baldwin, M. W 32, 36 

Baldwin Fund 45 

Baldwin School 31, 33 

Baldwin University 36 

Banquet at the Aberdeen Hotel 235 

Barker, Bartelle 229 

Barnes, Rev. Albert 32 

Base Ball 138 

Bigelow, Charles H 242 

Birdseye, Clarence 20 

Board of Trustees of Baldwin School 31 

Board of Trustees of Macalester College 44, 91, 195, 235 

Board of Trustees of Macalester College Reorganized 195 

Boyd, Prof. James H 136 

Breed, D. R 55 

Bromley, Eugene 291 

Bromley, Mrs. Eugene 291 

Brown, Lester D 214 

Bryce, James 21 



INDEX. 299 

Burrel, D. R., President 144, 201 

Bushnell, Rev. John, D. D 245 

C 

Calvary College 32 

Cardie, Rev. A 248 

Carkton College 51, 69, 75, 285, 288 

Carnegie, Andrew 19, 24, 243 

Carnegie Science Hall 232 

Carver, Rev. A. H 245 

Chace, A. R 238 

Clark, Charles, A 289 

Clark, Myron A 286 

Clionian Literary Society 247 

Cochran, Joseph W 286 

Cochran, Thomas 98, 181 

College, The Denominational 14, 16 

College of Saint Paul 33 

College, The Small 17, 18, 19, 21 

Co-education, Its Growth • 271 

Co-education Introduced at Macalester 206, 221 

Cookman, Sam 215 

College Songs 275 

College Yells 276 

Commencement, The First 140 

Converse, John H 242 

Cooper, J. W 239 

Course of Studies 129, 263 

Crist, Gertrude 248 

D 

Davis, Rev. George W 198, 249 

Davies, Helen Wallace 229 

Dayton, George D 164, 188 

Dean, W. B 191, 242 

Debt, How Incurred 162, 163 

Debt, How Liquidated 170 ff 

Dedication of the College in 1885 1 14 



300 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Dedication of Wallace Hall 226 

Detweiler, Margaret Evans 291 

Detweiler, James E 292 

Dickson, Anna M 229 

Dickson, James Stuartt 243, 254 

Dickson, Thomas H 190, 193 

Doeltz, Paul 289 

Donaldson, Rev. J. B 94 

Downing, Edward C , 197, 198 

Driscoll, Rev. A. E 245, 264 

Dunwoody, W. H 193, 242 

E ^ 

Echo, Macalester 139 

Education, Christian 129, 130 

Education, Secular 139 

Edwards, Rev. M. D 114 

Edwards, W. C 199 

Edwards Ilall 201 

Eliot, Charles C, President of Harvard 27 

Elms, 212 

Endowment, The Baldwin 45 

Endowment, Canvass of 1880 to 1884 74, 84, 160 

Endowment, The Memorial 161 

Endowment, New Campaign of 1904 to 1909 235 

F 

Fairlough, George 247 

Folwell, W. W 23 

Forbes, Charles 133 

Funk, Henry D 215 

G 

General Education Board, Helps Small Colleges 24 

General Education Board, Macalester Gift of Seventy- 
Five Thousand Dollars 243 

Gibson, Mae 249 



INDEX. 301 

Gotaas 285, 291 

Graduating Class, First 140 

Gustaviis Adolphus College 51, 216 

H 

Hall, John K 287 

Hall, John Porter 270 

Haines, Sarah 291 

Hambleton, James C 139, 287 

Hamline University 50, 75, 216 

Harris, President of Amherst 18 

Hill, James J., Friend of the Small College 241 

Hill, James J., Gift to the Library 142 

Hill, James J., Contribution to the Debt 171, 176, 187 

Hill, James J., Gives Fifty Thousand Dollars Toward En- 
dowment 241 

Hill, M. P 144 

Hodgman, President Thomas M 252, 262 

Hodgman's Administration 270 

Horn, Henry J 91 

Hyperion Literary Society , 139 

I 

Inauguaration of Dr. Hodgman 254 

Independent, The 19 

Irvin, B. W 139 

J 

Jacobson, Bessie Doig 229 

Janne}^ Thomas B 234, 238 

Jefferson, R. C 171, 234, 238 

Jesus College 38 

Johnson, Dr. Herrick 80, 192 

Johnson, Mrs. Julia M 194, 214 

Johnson, Mrs. Nina 228 

Jones, R. U 247 



302 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

K 

Kingery, D. Newton 213 

Kirk, R. A., Helps Liquidate the Debt 193 

Kirk, R. A., Member of the Board of Trustees 195, 236 

Kirk, R. A., Gift to the Endowment 237 

Kirkwood, W. R. 131, 141 

Kirkwood, W. P. 249 

Kirkwood, Samuel 139, 197 

Klose, W. H 249 

L 

Laube, W. C • 215 

Leek, Charles 289 

Lee, W. P ...138, 139 

Lewis, R. P 92, 175 

Library • 142, 143 

M 

Mac Af ee, Rev. George A 166 

Macalester, Charles 42, 46 

Mace, Winifred Moore 229 

Mac Rae, Rev. F. D 248 

Marshall, Rev. A. B 244 

McCormick, Cyrus H 242 

McCurdy, Rev. Thomas A 90, loi 

McFetridge, Professor 132 

Mead, Charlotte 212 

Merriam, President , 105 

Minnesota from 1850-1890 64, 6y, 68 

Moore, Margaret King 230 

L 71 12 Macalester College Index Reber 

Morris, Mrs., Gift to Library 143 

Moss, Henry L. and Mrs 99 

N 

Need of Macalester, Chapter XV 280 

Neill, Rev. Edward D., Biography of, Chapter VIH 146 

Neill, Dedicatory Address 114 

Northrop, President Cyrus 26, 58 



INDEX. 303 

Noyes, D. R 227 

Nutt, Rose Metzger 229 

O 

Oberlin Collegiate Institute 216 

Oliver Bequest 164 

P 

Parthenon Literary Society 138 

Pearson, Prof. Frank B 133 

Pearsons, Dr. D. K 23, 27, 188 

Pedersen, Mathilda 229 

Perry, Bliss 17 

Petran, Charles 288 

Phillips, Prof. Harry E 212, 247 

Platter, Rev. D. E 169, 170 

Plummer, F. W 249, 263 

Presbyterian Church in Minnesota 65, 67 

Pringle, Rev. John : • 190, 21 1 

R 

Ramsey, Gov. Alexander 30> 93 

Rankin, Mary J 290 

Reid, A. M 166 

Rice, Rev. Daniel I3S, 178 

Rice, Mrs. Daniel 178, 220 

Rice Property 180 

Ringland, Rev. A. W I99, 202 

Robertson, O. A 239 

Root, Elihu 18 

Rusterholz, Ruth Swasey 229 

S 

Schriber, B. H I94, 239 

Schroedel, Lydia 229 

Schuler, Harry • 288 

Seal of Macalester College 279 

Shaw, Prof. Thomas iQi, 237 



304 MACALESTER COLLEGE. 

Shattuck School . . .. , 51 

Shellman, Dr. and Mrs • 290 

Sherrill, Rev. J. S , '^'j 

Simonton, James 245 

St. John's University ., 50 

St. Olaf College 75, 17 

St. Paul Trust Co • .... 177, 190 

Strong, President 69, 105, 210 

Swearingen, Rev. Henry C 245 

Synod, Relations of, to Macalester College 52 

55, 62, 162, 293, 294 

T 

Taylor, H. Knox 97 

Tenney, W. H , . • 221 

Thaw, Mrs. William 171, 185, 186 

, Thomson, A. D 238 

Throop, Frank 291 

Thwing, President 18 

U 
Underwood, Judson L 139, 288 

V 

Vanderburg, Judge Charles E 96 

Voskuil, Henry J 291 

W 

Wallace, James, Professor of Greek 134, 249, 250 

Wallace, Benjamin, Rhodes Scholar 246 

Watson, Lily Bell 229 

Welbon, Arthur G • • 242 

Weyerhaeuser, Frederick 204, 241 

Whitney, Captain J. C 31, 93 

Whitridge, Grace B 246 

Wilson, Hon. E. M 39 

Wilson, Judge Thomas 194 

Winslow House 44 

Woman's Auxiliary of Macalester College 194 

Wright, Major B. F 95 







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